Laurence Harris

Laurence Harris, professor of psychology in the Faculty of Health, 聽has been named the recipient of a 2014 President鈥檚 Research Excellence Award for his outstanding contributions to multi-sensory research and to 91亚色鈥檚 research community.

鈥淧rofessor Harris is a tremendous credit to 91亚色 and as such is a highly deserving recipient of this year鈥檚 Research Excellence Award,鈥� said President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. 鈥淭hroughout his distinguished career at the University, he has demonstrated consistently strong leadership in research and academic excellence, as well as mentorship and student success. One of Canada鈥檚 best-known vision scientists, his pioneering research contributions have had far-reaching impact locally, nationally and internationally, and have significantly enriched research life at 91亚色 and enhanced our reputation as a leading research-intensive university.鈥�

鈥淚 am honoured to be the recipient of the 2014 President's Research Excellence Award,鈥� said Harris, who is also the director of 91亚色鈥檚 Centre for Vision Research, an Organized Research Unit at the University. 鈥淭he award acknowledges my research and that of my students, and recognizes my contributions to breaking down the artificial barriers that have historically been erected between the senses. The award emphasizes the respect and significance that 91亚色 attaches to research.鈥�

Introduced four years ago coinciding with 91亚色鈥檚 50th anniversary, the award recognizes established, full-time, active faculty members with outstanding research achievement and significant contributions to advance the University鈥檚 international reputation for research excellence. It will be presented at the 91亚色 U Research Leaders event, held on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in recognition of student and faculty research success and to celebrate 91亚色鈥檚 2013-14 research achievements.

The Senate Committee on Awards selected Harris from eight nominees to receive this year鈥檚 award 鈥� a $10,000 internal research grant 鈥� for his many achievements as an internationally renowned scholar who has made groundbreaking contributions to the field of multi-sensory research.

Harris, who recently led a $1.9-million project funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation to investigate the role of peripheral vision in balance and self-motion to help reduce the risk of falling in at-risk populations, has published more than 20 book chapters. His work has been published in some 100 peer-reviewed papers, including journals such as Nature, Science and PNAS. A past chair of the Department of聽Psychology, Harris has also been a dedicated teacher, mentor and citizen of the University.

The post Professor Laurence Harris wins the President's Research Excellence Award appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Tuesdays in November will never be the same if the organizers of 91亚色鈥檚 first Research Month have their way. They have put together聽an exciting month of events, interactive research displays and images that document and celebrate just some of the research conducted at 91亚色 University.聽The interactive displays, and images will be on exhibit in the Vari Hall Rotunda聽every Tuesday in November聽from 10am to 3pm.

In addition to the myriad of posters and images, members of the 91亚色 Rover Team (YURT) will be on-site in Vari Hall where they will be聽putting their award-winning Mars rover through its paces. And that's not all 鈥撀燼s part of this inaugural Research Month celebration, there will be workshops for researchers, the YORKwrites recognition celebration on Nov. 3 in the Steacie Science Library, Faculty research events, special lectures, film screenings and a chance to visit 91亚色鈥檚 12 research centres dedicated to the social sciences and humanities in their new offices in the 91亚色 Research Tower. All of this will culminate with a focal event to honour the recipient of the President鈥檚 Research Excellence Award.

"Research Month will engage the 91亚色 community with the knowledge and ideas that drive innovation at 91亚色,鈥� says Stan Shapson, vice-president, research & innovation. 鈥淎s we celebrate 50 years of growth of research, there is no better time than this to provide an opportunity聽for the community to find out more about our research strengths and to engage with our researchers.鈥�

To find out more about all the events and displays聽planned for 91亚色鈥檚 inaugural Research Month, visit the calendar posted on the 91亚色 Research Month Web site.

All events are free and open to the 91亚色 community and their guests, although聽some events may require pre-registration.

The post November is 91亚色's first Research Month appeared first on Research & Innovation.