As a new year emerges,ÌýYFile takes a look back on 2016 to share with readers a snapshot of the year’s highlights. "Year in Review" will run as a four-part series, and will feature a random selection of top news stories published inÌýYFile. Here are the stories and highlights for January to March 2016, as chosen byÌýYFile editors.
January
Above: An image of the coast of Greenland showing the ice sheet. Image: Wikimedia Commons
The Greenland ice sheet has traditionally been pictured as a bit of a sponge for glacier meltwater, but new research has found it is rapidly losing the ability to buffer its contribution to rising sea levels, saysÌý 91ÑÇÉ« researcher William Colgan.
91ÑÇÉ« honorary governorÌýHelen VariÌý(LLD [Hons.] ’03), honorary degree recipientsÌýLloyd AxworthyÌý(LLD [Hons.] ’15),ÌýJack CockwellÌý(LLD [Hons.] ’01),ÌýWade DavisÌý(LLD [Hons.] ’14) andÌýRohinton MistryÌý(DLitt [Hons.] ’03), and 91ÑÇÉ« alumniÌýJoseph BoydenÌý(BA ’91),ÌýRudy ButtignolÌý(BFA ’82),ÌýBarbara HallÌý(LLB ’78),ÌýFiona Amaryllis SampsonÌý(DJur ’05) andÌýFaye ThomsonÌý(BFA ’77) are among the 69 Canadians to be honoured with Canada’s highest civilian honour – the Order of Canada.
91ÑÇÉ«'s Glendon College and College Boreal have signed a bilateral articulation agreement with a view to promoting excellence in learning and expanding training opportunities. The agreement also seeks to enhance accessibility to postsecondary study programs in French and mobility between their two institutions.
Myles Lamont, "Canada's New Noah" for 2013, with an echo parakeet chick
A new partnership between the Faculty of Environmental Studies and Wildlife Preservation Canada provides experiential learning opportunities in species recovery programs for at-risk animals. 91ÑÇÉ« U students gain hands-on experience working with at-risk birds, reptiles, amphibians and pollinators.
The new YU Experience Hub will support experiential education initiatives by identifying opportunities for collaboration and offering services to address common needs, including engaging with stakeholders, offering shared services and workshops as needed, and developing new community partnerships.
91ÑÇÉ« biology Professor Carol Bucking has been awarded the the Society for Experimental Biology President's Medal for her research and developments in animal biology and physiology. The prestigious medal is awarded annually to young scientists for outstanding research.Ìý
February
91ÑÇÉ« U researchers are among a team of scientists that has created the first map showing how the Greenland ice sheet has flowed over time. The map shows that ice in the interior isÌý moving more slowly toward the edges now than it has, on average, over the past 9,000 years.
Students at 91ÑÇÉ« are making positive contributions to the global refugee crisis through the on-campus chapter of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC). WUSC supports and sponsors student refugees, and this fall will assist five new students with their resettlement in Canada and at 91ÑÇÉ« U.
Curiosity is a car-sized robotic rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission
Lassonde professor John Moores and his research team have been selected by NASA to provide Scientific and Operations support to the Mars Science Laboratory Mission (Curiosity). The Lassonde team will be part of the mission through 2020 as they help plan out what the $2.5 billion Mars Rover will do each day.
91ÑÇÉ« Professors Peter Backx, Rosemary Coombe, Christopher Kyriakides, Deborah McGregor, Doug Van Nort, Sean Tulin, Graham Wakefield and Jianhong Wu are among the 305 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at 53 Canadian degree-granting postsecondary institutions announced by Minister of Science Kristy Duncan on Feb. 9.
91ÑÇÉ« research leaders were recognized on Feb. 24 for their outstanding achievements during the fourth annual 91ÑÇÉ« U Research Leaders celebration. The evening was dedicated in memory of Lassonde Professor Nick Cercone, who was posthumously recognized for his research achievements.
March
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Madeleine Meilleur, 91ÑÇÉ« President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, 91ÑÇÉ« Vice-President Academic and Provost Rhonda Lenton and Glendon Principal Donald Ipperciel
The Province of Ontario has designated the Glendon campus as a French-language service provider through a partial designation of 91ÑÇÉ« under the French Language Services Act. The move reaffirms Glendon's role as a distinct faculty dedicated to Francophone and bilingual programming.
Samantha Craig-Curnow, Veronica Guido, Val Muzik and Darren Zanussi are all fourth-year students in the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at 91ÑÇÉ«. They recently came away with accolades for their standout performances at the recent Model Arctic Council at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The International Studies Association (ISA) - Canada Distinguished Scholar Award committee has nominated 91ÑÇÉ« political science Professor Sandra Whitworth as the ISA-Canada 2016 Distinguished Scholar.
For Barbara Crow, dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at 91ÑÇÉ«, the opportunity to make history arrived with her appointment as an expert panel member to facilitate public consultation for nominations for a new banknote featuring an iconic Canadian woman that will be issued in 2018.
Philip Hoffman shooting at the Berlin Wall, 1987
Professor Philip Hoffman is among eight winners of the 2016 Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts. The award recognizes outstanding career achievement in categories including artistic achievement in visual and media arts, fine craft, and outstanding contribution.
A 91ÑÇÉ« research team will receive funding and in-kind contributions from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and industry partners to research and develop support for the mental health needs of students through a Mindfulness Virtual Community.
Check back in the nextÌýedition ofÌýYFileÌýfor Year in Review:ÌýTop headlines at 91ÑÇÉ«, AprilÌýto JuneÌý2016.