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69传媒top undergraduate university in research income growth over six years
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The 69传媒 (UPEI) was the top Canadian undergraduate university in research income growth from 2002 to 2007, according to Canada鈥檚 Innovation Leaders 2008, a report published by Research Infosource.
From 2002 to 2007, research income at 69传媒rose from $5.2 million to $13.2 million, an increase of 153.8 per cent, says the report. Research Infosource is Canada鈥檚 premier source of research and development information.
"UPEI鈥檚 surge in research funding is based in faculty excellence and strong partnerships,鈥� says Dr. Katherine Schultz, vice-president of Research and Development. 鈥淥ur positioning as first in our category is a clear reflection of UPEI鈥檚 research focus and the energy with which we pursue our goals. UPEI's researchers are to be commended for this achievement.鈥�
Research Infosource has ranked 69传媒fourth out of 17 primarily undergraduate Canadian universities in its undergraduate research universities of the year category. 69传媒is the only university from the Maritimes in the top ten of the undergraduate category.
Schultz says that as one of the top ten research-intensive universities in Canada, 69传媒is well-situated to be a leader in research in the region and the country.
In 2008, external grants and contracts for all research areas at 69传媒rose to $16.4 million in 2008, with a goal of reaching $40-million within 10 years. This translates into greater opportunities for 69传媒faculty and students to participate in ground-breaking research, and in the establishment of state-of-the-art research facilities on the campus.
Take, for example, biology student Ashleigh Allen, one of 26 undergraduate students who received awards from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council last summer for research projects. Allen spent her summer working with her supervisor Dr. Robert Hurta, investigating the possible protective effects that natural 鈥渂ioactive鈥� compounds extracted from two species of seaweed may have against cancer cells. Under Hurta鈥檚 guidance, she learned about working in a cancer research lab, something she is interested in pursuing in the future.
69传媒now has seven faculty members who hold prestigious Canada Research Chairs in the sciences, and the social sciences and humanities. Their research covers the study of small islands; development of natural compounds from marine organisms; population health; the role of inflammation in diseases such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's; development of a research and training program to understand challenges faced by youth; watershed ecology; and the development of minimally invasive techniques to monitor and treat disease such as prostate cancer.
Researchers are also contributing to discoveries related to school health, immigration, stroke, infectious diseases in marine life, cultural engagement, invasive species, animal movement, 鈥済reen鈥� chemistry,鈥� and learning in a virtual environment, among others.
As well, 69传媒researchers collaborate with the PEI BioAlliance, the federal and provincial governments, and the local business community to move their research from the lab into the community and the economy.
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada recently released a report that found Canadian universities performed 36 per cent of the country鈥檚 research and development, well above the average of other developed countries. The report also notes that university research is estimated to have contributed as much as $60 billion to the country鈥檚 gross domestic product in 2007.
From 2002 to 2007, research income at 69传媒rose from $5.2 million to $13.2 million, an increase of 153.8 per cent, says the report. Research Infosource is Canada鈥檚 premier source of research and development information.
"UPEI鈥檚 surge in research funding is based in faculty excellence and strong partnerships,鈥� says Dr. Katherine Schultz, vice-president of Research and Development. 鈥淥ur positioning as first in our category is a clear reflection of UPEI鈥檚 research focus and the energy with which we pursue our goals. UPEI's researchers are to be commended for this achievement.鈥�
Research Infosource has ranked 69传媒fourth out of 17 primarily undergraduate Canadian universities in its undergraduate research universities of the year category. 69传媒is the only university from the Maritimes in the top ten of the undergraduate category.
Schultz says that as one of the top ten research-intensive universities in Canada, 69传媒is well-situated to be a leader in research in the region and the country.
In 2008, external grants and contracts for all research areas at 69传媒rose to $16.4 million in 2008, with a goal of reaching $40-million within 10 years. This translates into greater opportunities for 69传媒faculty and students to participate in ground-breaking research, and in the establishment of state-of-the-art research facilities on the campus.
Take, for example, biology student Ashleigh Allen, one of 26 undergraduate students who received awards from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council last summer for research projects. Allen spent her summer working with her supervisor Dr. Robert Hurta, investigating the possible protective effects that natural 鈥渂ioactive鈥� compounds extracted from two species of seaweed may have against cancer cells. Under Hurta鈥檚 guidance, she learned about working in a cancer research lab, something she is interested in pursuing in the future.
69传媒now has seven faculty members who hold prestigious Canada Research Chairs in the sciences, and the social sciences and humanities. Their research covers the study of small islands; development of natural compounds from marine organisms; population health; the role of inflammation in diseases such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's; development of a research and training program to understand challenges faced by youth; watershed ecology; and the development of minimally invasive techniques to monitor and treat disease such as prostate cancer.
Researchers are also contributing to discoveries related to school health, immigration, stroke, infectious diseases in marine life, cultural engagement, invasive species, animal movement, 鈥済reen鈥� chemistry,鈥� and learning in a virtual environment, among others.
As well, 69传媒researchers collaborate with the PEI BioAlliance, the federal and provincial governments, and the local business community to move their research from the lab into the community and the economy.
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada recently released a report that found Canadian universities performed 36 per cent of the country鈥檚 research and development, well above the average of other developed countries. The report also notes that university research is estimated to have contributed as much as $60 billion to the country鈥檚 gross domestic product in 2007.
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Anna MacDonald
Media Relations and Communications, Integrated Communications
