Written by BERNICE TRICK
Citizen staff
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Monday, 07 July 2008 |
UNBC has reached a milestone in attracting research funding by surpassing the $100 million mark to date.
"It's a significant accomplishment for a young and small university," said Jim Randall, former UNBC provost.
Much of UNBC's research revolves around natural resources and the environment, rural health and community sustainability in partnership with regional businesses and public organizations like Northern Health, West Fraser Timber, Carrier Sekani Family Services and government ministries.
During the 2007-08 school year, there were 260 investments in research projects, totalling $17.4 million, which was second to UNBC's record year in 2005-06 when it attracted $18.8 million for 268 research projects.
The university has seven research institutes, two research forests, a landscape ecology research centre on Quesnel River and 13 endowed research chairs who lead research on diverse subjects like forest insects and community development. It also has eight federally funded Canada research chairs -- more than many larger universities, Randall said.
The benefits realized include better management of forests, caring for the sick, realizing aspirations of Aboriginal people and fostering potential of children.
"While many benefits may only be seen in the future, some are immediate. For example, more than 500 students were hired this past year as research assistants, providing them with an unparalleled learning opportunity," said Randall.
The five research projects receiving the largest amount of funding last year, totalling about $3.2 million, were:
National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health (addressing the gap in aboriginal health status); Effects of Contaminants on Health (relationship between traditional food and health of Inuit population); Assessing Rural Acute Care Education (exploring effective and educational programs that recognize the nature of rural nursing practice); BC Environmental and Occupational and Health Research Network (exploring broad issues related to workplace health and how environmental contaminants affect health); Western Canadian Cryospheric Network (studying effects of climate change on glaciers in numerous locations around B.C. to better predict their futures).
These are just a sample of the hundreds of projects underway at any given time, said Randall, who noted, a lot of research undertaken by faculty and students requires little or no funding.
"But it still has enormous positive outcomes for communities and the economy."
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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