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Monday, February 8, 1999
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News of the Canadian Space Agency's new satellite launch was announced in Ottawa Friday by industry minister John Manley, who is responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, and environment minister Christine Stewart.
The new satellite, SCISAT-1, will be the first Canadian space science satellite since ISIS-2, which was launched in 1971 to study the upper atmosphere. Both the SCISAT-1 satellite and the science instrument on board will be designed and built by Canadian industry.
As a consequence of a rigourous and extensive review process begun in July 1997, the Canadian Space Agency selected the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE), to be the science payload for SCISAT-1.
Bernath, a faculty member in UW's chemistry and physics departments, leads the ACE science team, which includes scientists from across Canada and from the United States, Japan, France, Sweden and Belgium.
"The principal goal of the mission is to measure and understand the chemical and dynamical processes that control the distribution of ozone in the stratosphere," said Bernath, adding that the research focus will be on the decline of stratospheric ozone at northern mid-latitudes and in the Arctic.
"Average ozone declines have been measured over much of Canada, using ground-based instruments," he noted. Since 1980, a six per cent decrease in the ozone has been recorded sparking fears of atmospheric and climatic changes that could threaten human health and safety.
"This is a very exciting project with huge potential for advancing the increasingly important field of atmospheric science," said John Thompson, dean of UW's faculty of science. "We are delighted that Peter Bernath is leading the study."
SCISAT-1 will be launched in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The mission will include the CSA satellite and one from NASA on a single launch vehicle, a Pegasus XL class rocket. The Pegasus is deployed during flight from a modified L-1011 airplane.
"The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment, which will be the payload on board SCISAT-1, is a testament to Canadian excellence in space science," Manley said. "The SCISAT-1 Science Team should be commended for its efforts as it represents a concrete example of Canadians pulling together with international partners for the betterment of the Earth's environment."
"SCISAT-1 and the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment are proof of Canada's commitment to ozone monitoring and protection," Stewart said. "SCISAT-1 will solidify Canada's leadership role in space science research in the field of atmospheric observation."
Funding for the Small Satellite Program, under the Canadian Space Agency's Space Science Program, was provided by the Long Term Space Plan II, announced in June 1994. The Canadian Space Agency is committed to "leading the development and application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and humanity".
Designed "primarily for prospective students to use to enable them to visit the campus using the web," the tour offers visits to 26 locations across campus "with full panoramic views," says Julie Hummel, leader of the campus tour project team which included Tina Roberts, Barb Trotter and Julie Primeau.
"We knew that if the University of Waterloo was going to have a campus tour it needed to be the most innovative one out there," she adds, and the design company Surrealty -- "a talented group of alumni and students" -- was commissioned to do just that.
According to a test group of prospective students, the site is a success. "Students love the tour and describe it as "cool", "futuristic" and "a great way to visit campus," says Hummel, noting that research indicates the most popular hits to university web sites are information for prospective students and campus tours.
Seven faculty members are to be elected by/and from the members of faculty of the university; one faculty member is to be elected by/and from each faculty of the university; one faculty member of St. Jerome's University is to be elected by/and from the members of faculty at St. Jerome's; and one faculty member of Renison college is to be elected by/and from the members of faculty at Renison.
Two graduate students are to be elected by/and from the full- and part-time graduate students at the university. The call for four full-time undergraduate students was published separately and the election will run concurrently with the Federation of Students' elections on February 9 and 10.
Nomination forms are available from the university secretariat at ext. 6125. Deadline for return of nominations to the chief returning officer, Needles Hall room 3060, is 3 p.m., February 22. Elections will follow if necessary.
The members of senate whose terms expire on April 30 are Stuart McGill (kinesiology), James Brox (economics), Gisela Brude-Firnau (Germanic & Slavic), Peter Woolstencroft (political science), Gordon Andrews (mechanical engineering), Don Grierson (civil engineering), Larry Martin (urban & regional planning), Ian Goulden (combinatorics & optimization), Jerry Lawless (statistics & actuarial science), Frank Zorzitto (pure math), Jocelyne Legault (earth sciences), Michael Higgins (St. Jerome's University), Judith Miller (Renison College), David Kribs (graduate student, pure math), and Rita Nobile (graduate student, optometry). Of those, Andrews, Zorzitto and Higgins are not eligible for re-election.
Virtual Reality and Robotics and the University of Waterloo is the subject of a lecture today by electrical and computer engineering professor David Wang. The talk takes place at noon at Kitchener Public Library as part of the library's Ideas and Issues lecture series.
"What are the faces of poverty in K-W?" Kim Wilson-Giovinazzo of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty will provide a portrait, as well as explore the impact of recent and ongoing cuts to social services in the area as part of a talk today at 12:15 p.m. in the Blue Room at Conrad Grebel College. The event is part of a series of lectures sponsored by the peace and conflict studies program.
Ehvert Engineering welcomes computer, electrical, and systems design engineering students, as well as computer science students to its employer information session today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ground Zero.
Say I love you with a personalized gift suggest the folks at Graphics Express in South Campus Hall. Their Valentine's Day specials offer 25 per cent off round mouse pads, pillow cases and T-shirts which can be personalized with a photo or original design. The special runs from today through Saturday.
Learn how to find journal articles fast at a library orientation session for faculty of arts students tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., starting at the Dana Porter Library information desk. Registration is required today by phoning ext. 5417 or sending an email to jdforgay@library.uwaterloo.ca.
Barbara Elve
bmelve@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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