Daily Bulletin

Biotech strategy fails to reassure researchers

"Universities, especially in this province, have been hit hard," he adds, "but the document doesn't acknowledge that. Universities require a sign of additional support to move ahead."

"Much of the work being done at universities is not biotechnology, as such, but often more basic research leading to potential biotechnology advances, says Glick. As well, "our job is to train researchers to be flexible enough to move into different areas of research outside of their immediate areas of expertise. I think we're doing a good job of that, but with limited resources."

Glick heads the UW Biotechnology Research Centre, involving some 35 to 40 faculty, most from biology, chemistry or chemical engineering. The purpose of the centre, says Glick, is to facilitate interaction, making people aware of the possibilities in the field, which specializes in the genetic manipulation of micro-organisms.

As well, the university receives funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for the NSERC Industrial Biotechnology Chair, which is co-sponsored by companies of the Apotex Group. The Chair also operates a United Nations-sponsored Microbial Resource Centre (MIRCEN).

A number of UW researchers are involved in biotechnology work with colleagues at other universities. One current project has isolated the genes for antifreeze proteins in plants. Those researchers have formed a small company and are looking at ways to make other plants more freeze resistant. Another study being carried out in collaboration with researchers at Guelph involves isolating a bacterial gene and cloning it into plants to improve resistance to certain fungal pathogens, thereby reducing the need for use of chemical fungicides. "Both of these projects came out of very basic studies," Glick adds.

The new federal biotechnology strategy reflects the government's perception of the industry as an economic bonanza. "Biotechnology is one of the world's fastest growing technologies," said industry minister John Manley in a press release from the federal government. "Its potential benefits may rival those offered by the convergence of information and communications technologies. It offers tremendous economic opportunities, particularly in exports and job creation."

Reassuring Canadians that ethical, social, environmental and health questions will be considered in biotechnology development is one role of the new Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee, "an independent, expert panel" to advise seven federal ministers on policy directions and "give Canadians an ongoing forum to voice their views" on the issues.

Glick sees the establishment of an advisory committee as a positive development, one which has "existed in other countries for a long time," and could help to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and resources. He hopes greater coordination between the federal government and the provinces will also result from the initiative.

The need to build public support for the technology is highlighted in the strategy's objectives:

• "ensure that Canadians have access to, confidence in and benefit from, safe and effective biotechnology-based products and services;
• ensure an effective scientific base and make strategic investments in research and development to support biotechnology innovation, the regulatory framework, and economic development;
• position Canada as an ethically and socially responsible world leader in the development, commercialization, sale and use of biotechnology products and services;
• be sensitive to the needs of developing countries to build indigenous capacity to assess and manage the risks of biotechnology;
• improve public awareness and understanding of biotechnology through open and transparent communications and dialogue;
• solicit broadly based advice to the government on biotechnology;
• promote awareness of, and maintain excellence in, Canada's regulatory system, based on the Federal Regulatory Framework for Biotechnology (1993), to ensure Canada's continued high standards for protection of health, safety and the environment; and
• support the development of a Canadian biotechnology human resources strategy to ensure an adequate supply of highly qualified personnel."

Food for thought

Foragers may have to pack a lunch or venture further afield, starting Monday, August 17, as food services outlets close or reduce hours between terms. Closing on Monday will be the Bon Appetit Food Fair in the Davis Centre and the Modern Languages Coffee Shop. Both will reopen September 8. Although Brubakers remains open in the Student Life Centre, hours will be reduced from Monday through September 4, with food served from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The chip wagon at Village 1 will keep the same hours from Monday through August 28. Also closed for the month of August are the Festival Room at South Campus Hall, the Pastry Plus outlet in Burt Matthews Hall and Tim Hortons in Optometry. You can still find your java in the Davis Centre Tim Hortons, open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Pastry Plus in Needles Hall, open 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or at Double U's in South Campus Hall from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

And a note for graphics clients using print requisitions: some "important information for flexfield accounts. If you have different jobs, i.e. different number of pages and copies for each package, please fill a print requisition out for each job." The problem, for graphics, arises when jobs are combined on one requisition. There is no way to split the labour (non-taxable) from materials (taxable). In those instances, the customer would be charged a full 8% PST on the total bill.

Positions available this week

• Senior scheduling assistant, registrar's office, grade USG 6.
• Recruitment and publications coordinator, applied health sciences, grade USG 8/9.
• Booking clerk, audio visual, grade USG 3.
• Senior project leader, student information systems project, IST, grade USG 12.
• ORDCF/CFI coordinator, office of research, grade USG 8.
• Casual/temporary position, food services.

UW web site of the day

Thomas Seebohm, of UW's architecture school, teaches about "shape grammars" as well as architectural history and computer-aided design, and his home page quickly makes it clear that architecture isn't all about fitting steel girders together. For example, from a section of his site dealing with history and design:

In a course combining collaborative computing and architectural history, we placed ourselves back into 16th century Italy and designed possible Palladian Villas. . . . The design was then elaborated into a very detailed computer model. In addition, the students also designed the outbuildings, the forecourt and the gardens.

The pages, Seebohm says, "are intended for my students so that they can obtain a better idea of my research, teaching and practice interests. It is also intended for colleagues here and elswhere who wish to know more about my research and teaching. I have had responses concerning my research such as requests for papers and even a response by a potential investor in my prototype software."

Among the things users will find are pictures of three of Seebohm's own projects: a townhouse development in Toronto, improvements to his own turn-of-the-century house in Kitchener, and something called the Organ House. "This," the page explains, "is a project waiting for a site as architect and prospective client search the area surrounding Kitchener/Waterloo for suitable locations. It is a house for an organist which is to have a large room/hall with a pipe organ that will do justice to the sound of the instrument and permit performances and gatherings of large groups of friends."

Barbara Elve
bmelve@nh4.adm.uwaterloo.ca

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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