Arriving at the U of S from the University of Montreal, Clinton Westman joined the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology as an assistant professor in July. His research areas include environmental and symbolic anthropology, Cree and Métis ethnology and Christianity.

Sadeq Rahimi also joins archaeology and anthropology as an assistant professor. Most recently from Harvard, his research centres on medical anthropology, cultural psychiatry, political subjectivity and Middle Eastern cultures and politics.

Helen Booker began her new position in the Crop Development Centre on Aug. 17.  She obtained her PhD in plant breeding and genetics from the University of the West Indies, a centre recognized for its excellence in tropical plant breeding. She comes to the CDC from the Agriculture Food and Nutritional Science Department at the University of Alberta, where for the past 18 months she worked as a research associate in cereal breeding.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has appointed Dr. Baljit Singh as a member of its Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates. He will serve a six-year term beginning in 2009.

At the International Association of Hydrological Sciences assembly in Hyderabad, India, John Pomeroy was appointed chair of the fourth Biennium of the Decade for Prediction in Ungauged Basins (PUB) running from 2009-2011.  This is the first time a Canadian has led an international hydrological decade initiative. Pomeroy was also renewed as president of the International Commission for Snow and Ice Hydrology (ICSIH).  

George Khachatourians, professor in the Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, received the Canadian College of Microbiologists highest level of certification – Academic and Research Microbiologists – in recognition of his leadership in the education of Canadian Microbiologists and his contributions to the advancement of knowledge in microbiology. He was one of seven people to receive the honour.