University of Ottawa | News Releases and Announcements

Bullying: Why does it hurt so much?

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Bullying is an unavoidable part of reality; everyone has experienced it at some point in their life, either as a victim, a perpetrator or a witness. On Thursday, February 9, University of Ottawa professor Tracy Vaillancourt will share insights on why bullying hurts so much and what can be done to intervene and prevent it.

For decades, schoolyard bullying was viewed as a normal part of childhood. Professor Vaillancourt's talk aims to change the common view towards bullying. �'My hope is that people are going to stop using euphemistic labels to describe bullying. A lot of people talk about bullying as being a rite of passage, or something that makes you tougher and helps build your character,'' explains Vaillancourt.

Although this mentality has somewhat shifted due to recent tragedies, bullying continues to exist and hurt youth, sometimes so much that they take their own life or contemplate doing so as a way to stop their suffering. Recent studies in neuroscience have shown that the pain associated with physical injury is similar to the pain associated with peer rejection (social pain), in that they both activate similar brain regions. These studies help explain why being bullied hurts so much and the possible role this pain can take in the lives of victims.

WHAT: Excellence in Education Lecture Series:Why Does Being Bullied Hurt So Much? Insights from Neuroscience by Professor Tracy Vaillancourt

WHEN: Thursday, February 9, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (675 Gardenvale Road, Ottawa)

The Excellence in Education lectures are free and open to the public. Click here to register.

For more information on the event, contact Caroline Baron-Courcy at edueve@uOttawa.ca

In this talk, Professor Vaillancourt will argue that bullying interferes with that which is instinctually human � the quest to find a social place within the peer group and to fulfil a fundamental need to belong.

University of Ottawa ranks in top 20 in worldwide sustainability study

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

A GreenMetric study conducted by the University of Indonesia has ranked uOttawa as the 19th most sustainable and environmentally friendly university in the world, and second in Canada. The 178 universities that took part in this year's study were evaluated in five categories: green statistics, energy and climate change, waste management, water usage, and transportation.

Please see the official UI GreenMetric World University Ranking for more information.

uOttawa: A top 25 employer in the region for the third year in a row

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The University of Ottawa is proud to be named as one of the National Capital Region's Top 25 Employers for the third consecutive year.

Located in the heart of the capital, the University of Ottawa offers a range of benefits that contribute to making it one of the region's best places to work. Free tuition for staff, spouses and dependants, a bilingual, multicultural setting and a longstanding commitment to the community are just some of the advantages of working at uOttawa. The University also has several programs in place to ensure the health and well-being of its employees, including theHealthy and Active Campus program, created to encourage staff members to actively participate in campus activities to improve their physical and mental health through fitness.

Allan Rock, president of the University of Ottawa, states, "At uOttawa, our human resources are our most valuable asset. It is great to come to work each day and be surrounded by such a dedicated, talented and diverse group of people. Being recognized in this way for the third year in a row is truly a reflection of the quality of those who work here. We are thankful for the daily efforts of our professors and support staff, for it is their contributions that make uOttawa such a fantastic place to work."

The annual National Capital Region's Top 25 Employers competition is sponsored by Mediacorp Canada Inc. It recognizes employers that provide exceptional workplaces and offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs, compared with other organizations in their field. The rigorous selection process is overseen by an advisory board that evaluates the organizations according to specific criteria.

To place in the Top 25, organizations must be leaders in their field in terms of physical workplace; work atmosphere and social life; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.

University of Ottawa Media Calendar for February 4 to 10, 2012

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Here are some of the events taking place at the University of Ottawa from February 4 to 10, 2012. For more information, visit the uOttawa Media Room.

Thursday, February 9

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Research Competition - Graduate Studies and Engineering Research Day
Faculty of Engineering

Friday, February 10

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Lecture - Canada: A Health System in Transition?
Telfer School of Management
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Lecture - Family Matters: Is there room for �Culture' in the Courtroom?
Department of Classics and Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts

University of Ottawa hosts major announcement on genetic research

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, minister of health, and the Honourable Gary Goodyear, minister of state for science and technology, were at uOttawa on January 31 to announce a major investment in genetic research. The ultimate objective is to advance personalized medicine, which has the potential to both provide more effective individual treatment for Canadians and make the country's healthcare system more sustainable.

Please consult the official press release for more information.

From left to right : Dr Denis Prud'homme, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Pierre Meulien, president and CEO, Genome Canada, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Dr Mona Nemer, vice president Research, University of Ottawa, Dr Alain Beaudet, president CIHR, Dr Jacques Bradwejn, dean of the Faculty of Medicine

uOttawa experts share valuable insights on Afghanistan with European Parliament official

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Top professors and Afghan students gathered at the University of Ottawa on January 10-11 for two roundtables to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. This event was organized with an official from the European Parliament (EP) to seek out Canadian expertise on this topic.

The first roundtable focused mainly on regional security issues and what to do when ISAF forces begin to withdraw in 2013-2014. It consisted of Canadian security policy, political science, international relations and development policy experts, including uOttawa professors Roland Paris, Nipa Banerjee and Peter Jones, as well as Mark Sedra from the University of Waterloo. The panellists engaged in a candid discussion with an assistant to a member of the EP on security sector reform in Afghanistan, the European Union's role as a donor and other topics pertaining to the role of the EU in Afghanistan.

The second discussion was on the topic of women's rights and governance. It was attended by uOttawa Afghan students with wide-ranging experience in Afghanistan, from civil society to government. The roundtable was lively and provided a great deal of instructive discussion. The panellists in the second roundtable were able to reach consensus on the following:

Failures in the area of women's rights are the result of a poor application of existing laws, lack of access to justice, economic disempowerment and societal attitudes.
Budgetary resources should be funnelled into justice and economic opportunity for women instead of into Western NGOs focused on awareness.
PRTs and NGOs in Afghanistan are not necessarily useful. Western donors should be focus on donating money to the Afghan government.
Conditionality of aid is necessary, with a set of targets by donors for the Afghan government to reach.
A plan resembling the Marshall Plan should be implemented for Afghan women's advancement.
Aspects for socio-economic development include the need for better engagement with tribal leaders, more access to education for women, availability of micro financing for economic empowerment and dealing with the tribal instability in Pakistan.

Brodie Houlette, the EP official who presided over these discussions, hopes to invite uOttawa experts to the European Parliament this spring to address these issues and the role Europe can play in Afghanistan.

University of Ottawa and Commissioner Boileau meet to discuss possible designation under the French Language Services Act

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Ontario's French Language Services Commissioner, Fran�ois Boileau, met with representatives of the University of Ottawa to discuss the University's possible designation under Ontario's French Language Services Act, RSO 1990 ch. F.32.

The meeting was held at the Commissioner's offices, in Toronto, at the request of University president Allan Rock, who led the University delegation. The University is considering whether to apply for designation under the Act.

"Today's meeting was a first step in a process that we hope and expect will lead to clarity, so that we can decide what recommendation to make to our Board," said Allan Rock.

The first series of questions dealt with the effects of designation on program and course offerings. The University's Regulation on Bilingualism allows for different approaches regarding course offerings in one or both languages.

Indeed, there is no perfect symmetry in course and program offerings in the two languages. For example, some courses may be offered in French only, while others are offered in English only. Furthermore, it is a normal feature of university life that programs are created to meet new needs, and that programs are discontinued when they no longer attract students or no longer fill a need.

The University also requested information on the impact of the Act on University services. While student services are generally offered in both languages, the University raised a number of concerns regarding the effects of a designation on the internal workings of certain services.

The third series of questions dealt with the effect of the Act on University governance. Academic freedom and the independence that stems from this freedom are basic characteristics of universities.

"I am delighted to have met with the University's representatives," said Commissioner Boileau. "My office will work with them to clarify the matters that they have raised within the limits of my mandate. While we could not complete our work in a single meeting, today's session was a good start."

University of Ottawa Media Calendar for January 28 to February 3, 2012

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Here are some of the events taking place at the University of Ottawa from January 28 to February 3, 2012. For more information, visit the uOttawa Media Room.

Saturday January 28

7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.: Opera:Mozart's Don Giovanni (III of IV)
School of Music, Faculty of Arts
Information: Hali Krawchuk at 613-562-5733 or concerts@uOttawa.ca

Sunday, January 29

4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Opera: Mozart's Don Giovanni (IV of IV)
School of Music, Faculty of Arts
Information: Hali Krawchuk at 613-562-5733 or concerts@uOttawa.ca

Tuesday, January 31

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Information session - Virtual Career Library
University of Ottawa Library, SASS-Career Services, Co-operative Education Program and Telfer School of Management Career Centre
Information: Jos�e Bri�re at 613-562-5800 ext. 4172 or jbriere@uOttawa.ca

Thursday, February 2

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Caf�s citoyens - Premiers Caf�s citoyens des �tats g�n�raux
�tats g�n�raux de la francophonie d'Ottawa
Information: www.JereveOttawa.ca

University of Ottawa acknowledges two emerging research stars

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The University of Ottawa is delighted to announce Jean-Fran�ois Bureau and Howard Rundle as recipients of this year's Young Researcher of the Year Awards. The awards are presented annually to two University of Ottawa faculty members who have made exceptional contributions to research and student mentorship.

"The research community is thrilled to recognize these two very promising young researchers. Their dedication in the lab and the classroom is what makes the University of Ottawa a top research institute in Canada and abroad," declared Vice-President, Research, Mona Nemer.

Jean-Fran�ois Bureau is an Associate Professor at the School of Psychology and is rapidly becoming recognized as a leading expert in child and adult relationships. His work looks specifically at attachment patterns in toddlers, school-aged children and teens, along with their influence on social-affective and cognitive development. Professor Bureau has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and has distinguished himself as highly involved and enthusiastic teacher.

An Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, Howard Rundle has established himself as an outstanding researcher in evolutionary biology. Although interested in diverse topics in evolutionary ecology, Professor Rundle mainly dedicates himself to understanding how natural and sexual selections interact during adaptation in the Australian fruit fly. He is well on the way to being recognized as a world leader in this field. His outstanding work in the lab is also reflected in the classroom, where he is an exemplary teacher and is proving to be a shining example to his students.

The Young Researcher of the Year Awards were created in 1995 to recognize excellence and encourage leadership and innovation. Each award is accompanied by a $10,000 research grant.

The University of Ottawa is committed to research excellence and encourages an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge creation, which attracts the best academic talent from across Canada and around the world.

High impact research projects at uOttawa receive $1.9 million funding

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Seven professors at the University of Ottawa will share $1.9 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in support of major research projects.

The funding was announced as part of the CFI's Leaders Opportunity Fund, which helps prominent researchers and their institutions acquire infrastructure they need to gain a competitive edge.

"The Canada Foundation for Innovation plays a crucial role in retaining these brilliant scientists at the University of Ottawa. Through state-of-the-art infrastructures, their research will continue to generate benefits in the lives of Canadians and abroad," declared Vice-President, Research, Mona Nemer.

The seven researchers supported are:

Darryl Davis - Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Pre-clinical Development of Cardiovascular Stem Cells for Diagnosis and Treatment
Using cutting-edge technology, Dr. Davis and his team will explore novel techniques to extract and grow cells directly from a patient's own heart biopsy and transplant these cells back into damaged tissue. This research will improve the lives of people suffering from heart disease.

James Harden - Department of Physics
A Transmission Electron Microscopy Facility for Biomaterials and Cell Biophysics Research
Professor Harden is a pioneer in biological physics research, specifically designer protein biomaterials. His research will provide important insights in cell-biomaterial interactions as well as applications in regenerative medicine.

Jeffrey Keillor - Department of Chemistry
Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Professor Keillor's research is at the forefront of a trending research field that brings together chemistry, biology and medicine. Using novel techniques and state-of-the-art technology to study enzyme structures and functions, as well to label, detect and track proteins, Professor Keillor's research will have major implications in the fields of molecular science and biotechnology.

Kathlyn Kirkwood - Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Solid-State Bioreactor and Environmental Biocatalysis Facility
Applying her background in engineering, biochemistry , chemistry and microbiology, Professor Kirkwood's work on solid-state biocatalysis focuses on environmental applications, including treatment of crude-oil contaminated soils, waste treatment, and biomass pretreatment. Her research will also enable the development of novel methods to reduce environmental impact and increase long-term sustainability.

Rashmi Kothary - Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutics
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infant deaths. Dr. Rashmi Kothary and his team focus on improving our understanding of SMA disease pathogenesis and developing new therapeutic options - namely in the area of gene, protein and small molecular therapies.

Steve Perry - Department of Biology
Integrated Microscopy and Imaging Infrastructure for the Physiology and Genetics of Zebrafish
Using advanced microscopy and imaging techniques for research on zebrafish as a human model, Professor Perry and his team study how fish regulate the movement of salts between the water and blood (termed "ionic regulation") and how neuronal precursor cells migrate and adopt their final position in the brain during development or regeneration.

Jean-Marc Renaud - Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Specialized Physiological Laboratory for Testing of Therapies for Neuromuscular Disorders
As a specialist in physiology and pathophysiology of skeletal muscle, Dr. Renaud's research focuses on the physiological examination of muscle function - specifically muscle electrophysiology and contractility. His research will lead to novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases.