Historian Nicholas Rogers and mathematician Jianhong Wu were named distinguished research professors for sustained and outstanding scholarly, professional or artistic achievement largely accomplished at 91亚色.聽聽

Political scientist David Dewitt and education scholar Don Dippo were named University professors for extraordinary contributions to 91亚色 as colleagues, teachers and scholars.

The following profiles are based on citations given at convocation ceremonies in June:

Distinguished Research Professors

Nicholas Rogers (right) is one of the world鈥檚 leading scholars of the political culture of 18th-century British and Atlantic worlds.

In his writing, Rogers blends keen insights into the nature and operation of the early modern state with a detailed understanding of the social and cultural contexts in which it functioned. He has explored a remarkably diverse range of topics, from reactions to press gangs in British ports to religious conflicts amongst London鈥檚 crowds, from food riots to public reactions to blunders made by admirals, and even the genealogy of Halloween festivities. His compelling prose, intellectual rigour, powers of synthesis and painstaking archival research has allowed him to produce works that have served as models for subsequent writers on these and other topics.聽

In 1999, Rogers was awarded the Wallace Ferguson Prize for his book Crowds, Culture and Politics in Georgian Britain, a study of 18th-century Britain that fundamentally transformed our understanding of early modern Britain and prompted historians to reconsider how they treat the interplay between politics and culture. He brilliantly and persuasively mapped the pathways of political power and identified those who opposed, resisted and deflected its effects.

Jianhong Wu (left) is best known for his groundbreaking work on the application of mathematical modelling to the epidemiology of infectious diseases and was instrumental in establishing the MITACS Centre for Disease Modelling at 91亚色. This research has had a direct impact upon public health policy in Canada and abroad. After the SARS crisis in Toronto he was asked to establish a national working group on disease modelling and since then his research has advanced our understanding of H1N1, West Nile virus and avian influenza, to name but a few.

Wu joined 91亚色 in 1990, and was named Canada Research Chair in Industrial and Applied Mathematics in 2001. He has made fundamental advances in a number of seemingly disparate areas, from wave theory to neural network theory to differential equations and his intellectual achievements have made him an international leader in the field of applied mathematics. His career exemplifies 91亚色鈥檚 emphasis on interdisciplinarity and on the application of research to real-time issues.

University Professors

Since political scientist David Dewitt (right) joined 91亚色 in 1984, he has demonstrated the utmost commitment to 91亚色 through his scholarship and outstanding service to other researchers, and in his two terms as the associate vice-president (AVP) of research in the humanities and social sciences.

Dewitt is a widely respected expert on human security and was instrumental in establishing the 91亚色 Centre for International & Security Studies. At the heart of his research into arms proliferation, conflicts in the Asian Pacific and the Middle East and national defence policies have always been a concern for managing conflict and the safety of peoples. He has passed these essential concerns on in his mentoring and supervision of generations of graduate students and junior faculty.

As AVP, he has been pivotal in transforming 91亚色鈥檚 research culture. He has been a motivating force in improving service support for researchers, increasing the number of external grants, creating facilities for organized research units and establishing an influential 91亚色 presence on national research councils. In all of these endeavours he has been mindful that research is not the exclusive preserve of those in science, engineering and medicine. His constant attention to 91亚色鈥檚 enduring research strength in the humanities and social sciences has made him an ideal ambassador both to this University and for research and scholarship in all fields of human knowledge.

Don Dippo (right)聽has made an extraordinary contribution to the University as a colleague, teacher, mentor and scholar. He has played an important, consistent and multifaceted role in the development of the Faculty of Education and to 91亚色. Through his teaching, administration and scholarship, he has also helped others learn how and why community engagement matters.

Before he joined 91亚色 in 1987, Dippo was an elementary school teacher specializing in music. He has brought the same skills, knowledge, dedication, patience and energy he used as a teacher to his academic life to great and wide acclaim.

Dippo has served as graduate program director and twice as associate dean of preservice education. He has spearheaded new initiatives and educational innovations dedicated to enhancing social justice and inclusivity. He has encouraged advanced study that will transform lives and communities. And he has posed urgent and difficult questions.

Dippo devotes long hours to initiatives that involve schools and community organizations. He is actively affiliated with 91亚色鈥檚 Centre for Refugee Studies. He is sought out by graduate students who enjoy his lively mind and capacious scholarly reach.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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Left: David Dewitt

Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the聽 is an independent, nonpartisan think tank on international governance. Led by experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements.

鈥淚 congratulate David on his new role as vice-president of programs at CIGI,鈥� said Stan Shapson, vice-president research & innovation at 91亚色. 鈥淒avid has served the University so well as associate vice-president research, bringing an important blend of academic excellence, strategic thinking and administrative efficiency to this challenging role. His new role draws on his expertise as a first-rate academic administrator and his widely recognized career as a scholar in international affairs. I invite the 91亚色 community to join with me in wishing him every success in this new adventure.鈥�

Under its , CIGI seeks to identify and address areas of major global governance that will be challenged over the next decade. Its research and work will focus on four program themes: the Global Economy, Energy &聽Environment, Development, and Global Security.

鈥淚n a few short years, CIGI has emerged as a pre-eminent source of innovative thinking about international governance,鈥� Dewitt said. 鈥淚 am excited about the opportunity to work with CIGI鈥檚 staff, fellows and partners in building significant new programs of research and policy development. Our goal is to advance better ideas for promoting global prosperity and security.鈥�

About David Dewitt

Dewitt is a specialist in international affairs with expertise in security and conflict, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and comparative public diplomacy. He earned a BA at the University of British Columbia and an MA and PhD from Stanford University.

Prior to assuming his current position within the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, he served as director of the 91亚色 Centre for International聽& Security Studies (YCISS) from 1988 to 2006. He is the author or contributing editor of books, chapters and peer reviewed articles as well as commissioned reports on Canadian foreign, security, and defense policy, international and regional security and conflict management in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, arms control and proliferation, and human security.

In the early 1990s, Dewitt co-directed the North Pacific Cooperative Security Dialogue, a Foreign Affairs sponsored multilateral track-two diplomacy initiative, and has been involved in various track-two initiatives on security in Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Dewitt has been a visiting scholar at Tel Aviv University and an international research fellow of the Korean Institute for Defense Analysis. He served as founding chair of the Canadian Consortium for Asia Pacific Security and as a co-chair of the Canadian Member Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in Asia Pacific. He also was a co-director of the Canadian Consortium for Human Security, national chair of the Canadian Professors for Peace in the Middle East, and has served as chair of the Partnerships for International Strategies with Asia聽now based at the Sigur Center for Asian Studies, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University.

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of CIGI.

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CASS has over 30 research institutes, while 91亚色 has one of the largest faculties of social sciences and humanities in Canada, which makes this an ideal partnership. 鈥淐ASS is the premier institution in China for social sciences research,鈥� says , associate vice-president international. 鈥淎s 91亚色 International researchers and 91亚色 faculty members have already partnered with CASS researchers, I thought it was probably time we formalize what we were doing.鈥�

Right: Delegates from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences meet with Lorna Wright (centre)

Six delegates from CASS came to 91亚色 from China to meet with 91亚色 researchers聽and discuss future initiatives and collaborations. 鈥淏asically, it will give 91亚色 researchers better access to opportunities in China for research and we鈥檒l have a partner for that research,鈥� says Wright.

One of those researchers is 91亚色 political science Professor Gregory Chin in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, who currently has about six research projects on the go all involving CASS scholars in one way or another across disciplines. "The signing of this agreement with CASS will further strengthen these links," he said.

As the two delegations discussed areas of mutual interest, , associate vice-president research (social sciences & humanities), said he has worked with several CASS researchers in the past, in the 1990s. 鈥�91亚色 used to work a lot with CASS researchers. I hope this will afford us the opportunity to start that again.鈥�

Left: Wright signs a collaboration agreement with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. From left, Zhang Youyun, deputy director general in聽CASS's Bureau of International Cooperation; vice-president of CASS Professor Wu Yin; Wright and Gregory Chin.

, chair of the Department of Anthropology, agreed saying,聽鈥淭here are so many areas where we could work together.鈥�

Chin, Dewitt and Lumsden, along with Bernie Frolic, director of the Asian Business & Management Program; Susan Henders, director of the 91亚色 Centre for Asian Research; Faculty of Education Professor Qiang Zha; Haideh Moghissi, associate dean, external relations, for the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; and Professor , chair of the Department of Political Science, discussed some of their research interests with delegates from CASS to get a better understanding of their mutual goals.

The Chinese delegation from CASS included: Professor Wu Yin, vice-president; Professor Zhang Changdong, deputy director general in the General Office; Professor Wang Zheng, deputy director general of the Bureau of Scientific Research Management; Professor Hu Guocheng, research fellow in the Institute of American Studies; Professor Zhang Youyun, deputy director general of the Bureau of International Cooperation; and Li Bin, program officer in the Bureau of International Cooperation.

As Wright pointed out, the collaborative nature of the agreement will also be beneficial when it comes to securing funding from granting agencies, as the agencies are always looking for international partnerships. 鈥淎nd CASS is a very prestigious partner.鈥� In addition, the partnership will also facilitate faculty exchanges.

鈥淚 hope the agreement will result in further concrete results and research collaborative projects,鈥� says Wright. "It was agreed that the next step would be a meeting at CASS in Beijing during Dean trip next month when a task force of Martin Singer, Bernie Frolic and myself would convene with researchers from CASS to discuss the strategic direction."

Following the signing, the CASS delegates had a tour of the campus and lunch with 91亚色 President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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"I am truly excited to be taking on the directorship of CCGES, which is both a privilege and a challenge,鈥� says McIsaac. 鈥淢y sense is that CCGES has begun to establish itself as a nexus of crucial research into a variety of important questions, but we have not begun to exhaust the possibilities of the 91亚色 community. While Germany retains a central place in the centre's research agenda, we need to welcome the intellectual curiosity of colleagues working on other European questions under the CCGES umbrella. The European Union Centre of Excellence project, housed at CCGES, provides a perfect example of what is possible.鈥�

Right: Peter McIsaac

McIsaac holds a PhD in Germanic languages and literatures from Harvard University and a聽bachelor of science聽in physics and German from the University of Michigan. In addition to numerous articles, book chapters and book reviews, McIsaac is the author of and has served as guest editor for the journals , and . He came to 91亚色 in 2007 from Duke University, where he was an assistant professor. During the past year, McIsaac was a visiting associate professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

fosters and disseminates critical knowledge about Germany in its European context while examining Europe as a geographical, political, social, cultural and economic entity. Promoting new research into these core lines of inquiry is at the heart of McIsaac鈥檚 plans for the centre.

McIsaac succeeds Professor Roger Keil, director of the City Institute at 91亚色 and professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, who has served as interim director for the past year.

"CCGES鈥� focus on European Union studies and affairs reflects the complexity and diversity of meanings attached to Europe in the modern world,鈥� says David Dewitt, associate vice-president research (social sciences & humanities). 鈥淚ts research supports 91亚色鈥檚 international focus while its student exchanges provide valuable opportunities for students from 91亚色 and European countries to enhance their student and research experience through travel.

鈥淚 commend Professor Keil for his great service over the past year and am pleased to welcome Professor McIsaac into this new role.鈥�

Submitted by聽Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer

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On May 17, the War Crimes and Refugee Status Research Workshop took place, followed by a welcome reception to launch the 91亚色 2010 International Conference on Forced Displacement, Protection Standards and the Supervision of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol and Other International Instruments held over the next three days. Both international events featured distinguished senior jurists, legal scholars and academics, government officials, intergovernmental officials, non-governmental organization officials, advocates and students.

The idea for both the international research workshop and the conference grew out of discussions at the Research Workshop on Critical Issues in International Refugee Law, held at 91亚色鈥檚 Keele campus in May 2008. The War Crimes and Refugee Status Research Workshop was the result of a concerted effort to continue work begun at the 2008 research workshop with a wider international collaborative and聽compartative聽research project . The international conference came out of a proposal by Justice Tony North of the Federal Court of Australia, immediate past-president of the , for the establishment of an International Judicial Commission for Refugees.

Above: Conference participants from around the world gather for a group photo

The conference鈥檚 opening was delivered by Volker Turk, director of the Division of International Protection for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),聽who outlined seven points for enhancing the monitoring and supervision of international protection standards for those forcibly displaced in the world today.

Among Turk鈥檚 seven points were two substantive proposals: the establishment of an expert advisory committee on the implementation of international instruments, and reconstituting a special committee of the Executive Committee that would focus specifically on international protection.

, professor in 91亚色鈥檚 School of Public Policy & Administration in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and a former Immigration & Refugee Board of Canada judge, is leading both initiatives, supported by , 91亚色鈥檚 associate vice-president research & innovation, and , director of the Centre for Refugee Studies (CRS) at 91亚色.

In addition to Turk, the international conference featured two other keynote speakers, Justice Nicholas Blake, president of the聽Asylum and Immigration Chamber, Upper Tribunal, UK, and Professor Sriprapha Petcharamesree of聽the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and Centre for Human Rights Studies聽at聽Mahidol University in Thailand.

Panel presentations covered a variety of topics on current monitoring and supervisory practices and experiences of the UNHCR and states party to the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as possible ideas, proposals and reforms for enhancing the supervision of international protection standards in the context of forced displacement. The international conference also considered the effectiveness of legal instruments and remedies in the Global South and the Global North. The final day was devoted to presentations on International Protection and Public Accountability: The Role of Civil Society.

Above: Participants at the research workshop gather for a photo. Front row seated left to right: Professor Sharryn Aiken, Queen's University; Barbara Harrell-Bond, OBE, UK; Professor James Simeon, 91亚色; Professor Jane McAdam, University of New South Wales, Australia; Justice Anthony North, Federal Court of Australia; First row standing: Professor Ian Greene, 91亚色; Susan Davis, Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy; Professor Susan McGrath, 91亚色; Professor Elspeth Guild, Radboud University, The Netherlands; Kees Wouters, UNHCR, Geneva, Switzerland; Judge-President Bernard Ngoepe, South Africa; Justice President Ana Calzada, Costa Rica; Second row standing: Nico Mol, European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France; Justice Professor Dr. Harald Dorig, Germany; Justice Dr. Bostjan Zalar, Slovenia;聽IRB Chair聽Brian Goodman; Joseph Rikhof, senior counsel, Justice Canada; Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill, University of Oxford; Dr. Alice Edwards, University of Oxford; Mary Teresa Glynn, Canada Border Services Agency; Geoffrey Care, Shetland Islands, Scotland.

The War Crimes and Refugee Status Research Workshop was divided into two panel presentations and roundtable discussions. The morning panel session on the war crimes and refugee status research project, funded by an International Opportunities Fund grant from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada,聽included presentations from Professors Geoff Gilbert, School of Law, University of Essex, UK; Kate Jastram, Berkeley Law, University of California Berkeley; and Simeon.

The聽afternoon panel focused on the developing content on exclusion under Article 1F(a) of the 1951 Convention, which聽included presentations from Joseph Rikhof, senior legal counsel, Justice Canada; Justice Professor Harald Dorig, Federal Administrative Court, Germany, and Kees Wouters, senior refugee law adviser, Division of International Protection, UNHCR.

Canadian government officials in attendance at the research workshop or the international conference included: Chief Justice Allan Lutfy of the Federal Court of Canada and fellow Justices Luc Martineau and Russel Zinn; Brian Goodman,聽chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB),聽Ken Sandhu, deputy chair of the IRB's聽Refugee Protection Division, Sylvia Cox-Duquette, senior general counsel, and other聽IRB officials; Kristen Mlacack, director of Citizenship and Immigration Canada; and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Canada Border Services Agency.

Among 91亚色 faculty members who participated in one or both events聽were: Nergis Canefe, associate director of the Centre for Refugee Studies, a political science professor in 91亚色鈥檚 School of Public Policy & Administration and adjunct faculty member in the Faculty of Law at Turkey鈥檚 Istanbul Bilgi University; Obiora Okafor, professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Osgoode Hall Law School; Michael Barutciski, professor and director of graduate studies in Glendon鈥檚 School of Public & International Affairs, and Professor Emeritus Howard Adelman, founding director of the CRS.

In addition to visitors from across Canada and the United States, the research workshop and international conference participants came from such countries as Australia, Costa Rica, India, Japan, Thailand and South Africa. European participants included representatives from France, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Slovenia,聽and the United Kingdom.

Both the research workshop and international conference were chaired by Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill, senior research fellow, All Souls College, University of Oxford, England. A Canadian, Goodwin-Gill is聽one of the world鈥檚 leading authorities in international refugee law.

For further information on the research workshop and the international conference, visit their Web sites.

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