The University of Regina received more than $20.5 million in research funding from public and private sector sources during 2002-03, up 5.5 per cent from $19.4 million in 2001-02 and 77 per cent from 1999-2000 totals.

Dr. Allan Cahoon, the University’s vice-president (research and international), said the increase in the University’s research capacity is evidence of the success of the institution’s growth plans and strategies.

Speaking at a reception to honour the University’s three newest appointments to Canada Research Chairs (CRCs), and the naming of a fourth faculty member as a 2003 President’s Scholar, Cahoon said the University of Regina has focused on collaborative, interdisciplinary research and scholarly activities.

“This is unusual among universities,” he said. “At many institutions there is a tradition of focused, single-discipline research. But because our University places such a high premium on service to the community that supports us, we focus our teaching, research and service resources on themes that reflect the community’s needs and priorities.”

The University has identified five areas of strategic emphasis for scholarly pursuit: Social Justice, Health, Informatics, Culture & Heritage, and Energy & Environment.

“By focusing our research in this way we create opportunities for co-operation and partnerships, both within and outside of the University community. The result is world-class centres of research excellence whose work will have special relevance to the people and province of Saskatchewan – and which are enjoying growing success in attracting funds for their work."

The Canada Research Chairs Program is a federally funded, $900 million investment in research excellence. With partial matching by provincial governments, and further grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to fund research infrastructure, the CRC Program helps universities attract researchers already at the peak of their careers, as well as those whose careers are ready to take off.

"Today, we are celebrating the strategic partnership between the University of Regina, the Canada Research Chairs Program and the CFI," said federal Industry Minister Allan Rock. "The Government of Canada's investment in three University researchers allows them to advance their careers among world-class colleagues, mentor and train top graduate students and gain access to state-of-the-art research facilities.”

“Supporting the University’s Canada Research Chairs through our Innovation and Science Fund is part of our commitment to encourage leading-edge research and development,” provincial Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. “By assisting eminent researchers, we help strengthen our economy, add to the world’s body of knowledge, and create new opportunities in a province where the future truly is wide open.”

The University’s first CRC appointee, Dr. Greg Marchildon, assumed his role in Social Justice in January this year. Three further appointments were announced this spring. They are:

• Dr. Shadia Drury, a political scientist and widely recognized authority on conservatism and social justice, was named to the Canada Research Chair in Social Justice. As holder of a Tier 1 chair she will receive $200,000 per year for seven years to pursue an interdisciplinary program of research, publishing and teaching in social justice and related topics. The Province of Saskatchewan will match those funds for the first two years of the appointment. She will also receive $75,000 from the CFI to cover research infrastructure development.
  
• Dr. Guo (Gordon) Huang, an engineer and world authority on energy and the environment, was appointed to the Canada Research Chair in Energy and Environment. His appointment to the Tier 1 chair will further his research into systems that will support decision-making to help control pollution from various industrial processes, and support effective environmental management. He will receive $200,000 per year for seven years with $150,402 for research infrastructure development from CFI.
  
• Dr. Peter Leavitt, a biologist, was named to the Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change and Society. The Tier 1 appointment – $200,000 per year with provincial matching in the first two years – will help him develop systems to accurately predict future droughts, and enable us to prepare for them and reduce their economic and environmental impacts. He will also receive $228,211 for research infrastructure development, which will be matched by the Province.

The 2003 University of Regina President’s Scholar is English professor Dr. Jeanne Shami, a leading authority on the work of John Donne. The award provides her with a $10,000 research grant and a teaching release from three courses over the two years of the appointment. The President’s Scholars Program fosters excellence in basic scholarship by helping scholars further or complete an existing program of research, or undertake new short-term projects, or by providing seed money for larger-term project development.