NSAC E-Bulletin

Please forward your submissions to the NSAC E-Bulletin to Stephanie Rogers (news@nsac.ca) by Friday at 3:00 p.m. for inclusion in the next week's edition.

December 16th, 2002 - Week 114
Please note that this will be the last E-Bulletin for 2002. The E-Bulletin will return to its weekly schedule beginning January 6th, 2003. Happy Holidays!

Principal's Jottings #68

Thanks to Party Makers
Thanks to the organizers among us who appreciate the importance of social events to bring some balance into our lives, we have had a couple of opportunities in the past few days to get to know each other a little better while having some fun. One of these occasions was the Christmas Party for grad students and their supervisors, organized by the graduate student society (NAGS) led by Kelly Bowes and held at the Truro Curling Club last Friday. Thanks to Kelly and her crew, it was a very enjoyable, successful and well attended event. Bravo grad students!

In a similar vein, I want to thank the organizers of the NSAC dinner and dance held at Jenkins Hall on Saturday evening. Under the inspirational leadership of Professor Tarjei Tennessen and the organizational skills of Bridget Harrison, a Committee representing NSAC, NSDAF and AgriTECH Park laid on a great evening of food, music, dancing and conversation. In addition to Bridget and Tarjei, I want to say a hearty thanks to Judy Grant, Katroina MacNeil, Kris Pruski, Jill Rogers, Gloria Martin and Alan Grant for their splendid effort to keep us properly entertained.

Reminder for December 19th and 20th
I trust that, by now, everyone has been duly notified and invited to the following events happening this week:

Thursday, December 19th, 3:30 P.M. - Reception, holiday social, and opportunity to meet the members of the Advisory Board in Cumming Hall. These folks are donating their time to work for us. Come out and meet them.

Friday, December 20th, noon - Staff lunch, come join the AgriTones in seasonal song wrapped around a Chartwell's Holiday menu. Please make sure that all your colleagues know about this.

New Research Chair at NSAC
As you may have heard from publicity arising from the NS Federation of Agriculture annual meeting, or from earlier advertising for the position, NSAC will be hosting a new "bioproducts" research professorship. The industry group acting as the driving force behind this research position is the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers Association who are looking, in particular, for new market opportunities for apples as a functional food through probing their health and nutritional benefits.

NSAC alumnus Mark Eyking, MP was pleased to be able to announce $175,000 of federal funding to support the Fruit Growers in this venture for the next five years through the AgriFutures program. Similarly, the Honourable Ernie Fage announced a provincial commitment of $150 thousand over five years to provide matching funds. The search for a candidate to fill this position is well underway. One of the features of this position is that it strengthens our capacity in the food sciences area which is where we must go.

Transition to President
Speaking of searches, while the search for a President is moving along, it has fallen behind the original schedule. Consequently, I will be continuing as Principal at least through February and possibly longer, until we are at or closer to the point at which the new President is prepared to assume office. This is provided for in the previous extension of my contract to June of 2003 and in my offer to continue past the previous target retirement date of December 31st if circumstances warranted. I am pleased to be able to continue to serve NSAC in this capacity.

Meeting Schedule
For those who wonder just what the Principal does, one part of the job can be a reasonably full agenda of meetings and the responsibilities that go with the role in that regard. In the interest of promoting an understanding of the role, here is a glimpse of the schedule, from last week and this:

December 9th PM: Dalhousie Senate, Halifax
December 10 AM: NSDAF Senior Management, Truro
December 10 PM: CONSUP, Conference call, Truro
December 11 AM: NSAC Executive Committee, Chair
December 12 AM: AgriTECH Park Board, Truro
December 12 PM: Performance Genomics Inc. Board Meeting (Chair), Truro
December 13: Three meetings on campus
December 16: Three meetings on campus
December 17 AM: NSDAF Executive Management, Halifax
December 17 PM: NuTech Board Meeting, Halifax
December 18: AgraPoint International Inc. Board Meeting, Kentville
December 19: NSAC Advisory Board, Truro

Changing gears and agenda, with this frequency constitutes an interesting challenge of this position. When interspersed with unscheduled meetings, telephone calls, correspondence and unexpected developments, there is little opportunity for boredom.

Get well wishes for Dick Huggard
As you may know, former Deputy Minister and current NSAC Foundation Board Member Dick Huggard is recovering from a heart attack. Thankfully, the progress of his recovery has been good and he has been released from hospital. We offer our thoughts and prayers for a continued speedy recovery and are hoping to see Dick back in circulation soon.

Good wishes for the Holidays
This being my final jottings before the holidays, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and relaxing holiday. The past semester has presented its very own set of challenges, as well as interesting opportunities. Thank you for your dedication and loyalty to NSAC. I hope you are able to enjoy a well-deserved break in your hectic schedules.

Thought for the week and Planning Workshop
As we close the book on this chapter and look forward to our Planning Workshop in the Riverview Room on January 3rd, the American Naturalist John Burrows (1837 - 1921) provides us with a thought to reflect upon over the holidays:

The lesson which life constantly repeats is to "look under your feet." You are always nearer to the divine and the true sources of your power than you think. The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are. Do not despise you own place and hour. Every place is under the stars. Every place is the center of the world.

H.G.C.

World Junior Hockey
The Nova Scotia Hockey Association along with a Host Committee in Halifax and Sydney are hosting 10 teams for the World Juniors - Dec.26 -Jan.1, 2003. Many of the teams coming to the event arrive a week early to train and adjust to the Tournament Site . As a way of taking the tournament and the world's best male hockey players to more of the province, the Host Committee asked for the participation of communities in hosting teams for the Training Camps and exhibition games. A Truro Committee of NS Hockey officials, The Truro Bearcats and the Minor Hockey Assocation and other volunteers asked NSAC to be involved in the accommodations, meals and off-ice training portion of the teams' visit in Truro.

Teams from Finland and Switzerland will be coming to Truro on Dec. 20 , staying in Chapman House and Trueman House respectively, eating in Jenkins Hall and training and playing at the Colchester Legion Stadium. The exhibition game will be held on Dec.22 at the Stadium and the teams leave for
the World Juniors at Centre 200 in Sydney and the Metro Centre in Halifax on Dec. 23. Students have volunteered to allow the players and coaching staff the use of their rooms and they will be given a stipend and a souvenir (from the team member in their room). It is a good partnership of NSAC and the Truro/Bible Hill community in hosting and showing off our community and our facilities to 60 elite competitors.

Teaching Workshop
"But I changed some of the words!" Addressing student plagiarism
Speaker - Gwendolyn MacNairn University Libraries, Dalhousie University

Plagiarism by students has always been a concern in the university. The ease of electronic access to a wide range of text resources and the ability to cut and paste has created a situation in which students find it very easy to plagiarize. In this session we will demonstrate just how easy it is to write a paper using the Internet and then provide wasys to detect plagiarism and explore strategies that faculty can use to address this problem through assignment redesign and student education.

When: Dec. 18th, 10:00 am
Where: Cox Institute Rm. 138
Expected Duration: 90 min.

Light Refreshments will be served prior to the workshop.This workshop is sponsored jointly by the NSAC Instructional Development Committee and the Office of Instructional Development and Technology - Dalhousie University

Holiday Invitation
In appreciation for your contribution to NSAC all year long, you are invited to a Holiday Lunch at noon on Friday, December 20, 2002 in Jenkins Hall. Bring your singing voice along to join the Agri-Tones in seasonal favourites.

Garth Coffin
Principal

RSVP Theresa 6720 by Thursday, Dec. 19th

Attention Faculty and Staff:
Researchers, graduate students and instructors using or proposing to use biohazards must obtain certification from the NSAC Biosafety Officer that the laboratory procedures being used adhere to the standards outlined in Health Canada's Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (Health Canada, 2nd ed, 1996). It is essential that the use of biohazards complies with the safety precautions necessary for the level of containment required for the organisms used. We are very pleased that Dr. Glenn Stratton, Department of Environmental Sciences, has agreed to act as the NSAC Biosafety Officer.

What is a biohazard?
A biohazard is a potentially dangerous infectious agent. Biohazards include bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and other infectious agents which may be pathogenic to humans or animals. Recombinant DNA and transgenic plants and animals are also included under biohazards and specific recommendations for the safe use of transgenic animals, plants and recombinant microorganisms are included under the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines.

New Procedures for Using Biohazards at NSAC:
Approval to acquire, purchase and use biohazards at NSAC must be obtained from Dr. Glenn Stratton. Applications for an internal permit for the acquisition and use of biohazard materials may be obtained from Dr. Stratton. Anyone currently using biohazards on campus is asked to contact Dr. Stratton (Phone: 893-6609; E-mail: gstratton@nsac.ns.ca) to obtain verification that all safety requirements are being met. These new regulations apply to all bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, recombinant DNA, and transgenic plants and animals ordered for either research or teaching purposes regardless of their perceived pathogenicity.

For more information:
Please find attached Health Canada's third draft of the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines manual (pdf format), for additional information on biohazards, risk groups of pathogens, and containment level requirements. If you have questions or concerns, or require assistance in interpreting these guidelines, please contact Dr. Stratton.

News from the Road
The 2002 fall recruitment tour has now officially come to a close. With the display boards all packed up and the rolling suitcases tucked safely in the back of the office, it is now time for Brian, Dara and Jenna to sit back and reflect on the busy autumn...well, not quite!

Brian finished up the last high school tour on the schedule last week in Pictou, while Jenna oversaw the office operations. Dara has been on the road the last two weeks, first in the Annapolis Valley and then spent last week doing some make up visits in Saint John, New Brunswick and in the Valley. On Friday, all three of the recruiters met with their co-workers from the other Atlantic universities and colleges for the end of season wrap up meeting held at St. FX University.

This week, all three will be in the office looking after information packages, tours and organizing all of the information collected during the Fall. This week, we would like to give our "Tip of the Hat" to Ryan Gaunce, Keri Coulter, Tracey Collins, Emily Stokes and the other students who are taking time out of their holidays to go and visit their home high schools. Also thanks to Adam Mermuys for making presentations on Ag careers at three PEI schools last week. Thank you!

In closing, this our final News from the Road for 2002, we would like to extend holiday greetings to all, and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! See you all in the New Year!

Promotion of NSAC Seminars and Events
If you and/or your Department are planning an event or seminar that may be of interest to the campus community, and community at large, please contact Stephanie Rogers for help in promotion and community awareness. E-Mail: srogers@nsac.ns.ca

NSAC Lost Sheep
A big thank-you is extended to all who provided leads on various names that appeared on the Lost Sheep list in a previous edition of the NSAC E-Bulletin. Your leads enabled Jo-Anne Jordan to bring 37 lost sheep back into the fold to date.