Media Releases

SASKATOON – Sandhya Chandran, a PhD student at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Engineering, has been awarded this year’s $20,000 Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship by the Government of Saskatchewan.

SASKATOON – Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has given its support for a new national dental therapy educational program and approved $2.1 million in funding to establish the program, which will be run collaboratively through a partnership between the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA), the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Dentistry, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and Northlands College.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan wildlife ecologist Dr. Philip McLoughlin’s (PhD) research team has been awarded $1.87 million by a federal granting agency for an interdisciplinary project to study complex environmental changes occurring in Western Canada’s Boreal Plains and help mitigate the consequences.

SASKATOON – A synchrotron-based study led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers shows that the chemical form of mercury found in the brains of people who ate a lot of fish over a lifetime is completely different from the mercury form found in the brains of people who were poisoned.

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask), along with external Indigenous partners, has launched a task force that will create a policy for Indigenous Membership/Citizenship Verification with Documentation. Comprised of Indigenous people, this task force will lead the improvement and development of internal practices and advance truth and reconciliation.

SASKATOON – A Canadian-United Kingdom research team has received $1,538,725 in funding to undertake a three-year project.

SASKATOON – A new multi-year provincial mentorship program will support the professional development needs of all new physicians in Saskatchewan who are in their first five years of practice.

SASKATOON – Two University of Saskatchewan (USask) research projects will highlight the importance of equitable opportunities for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (2SLGBTQ+) and Indigenous peoples to participate in their communities throughout life as adult leaders and during their youth.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) associate professor Dr. Vince Bruni-Bossio (PhD) has received a 3M National Teaching Fellowship, the most prestigious national teaching award in Canada.

SASKATOON – The College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has hired its first vice-dean Indigenous Health. The position was created to bring Indigenous health and issues more fully to the forefront in college priorities, while also serving to improve how these critical areas are addressed.

SASKATOON – Leading Indigenous researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will play a critical role in a new national, patient-driven network addressing the challenges of heart failure (HF), a common condition that is often fatal and on the rise in Canada and which disproportionately impacts Indigenous people.

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) will pay tribute to six remarkable individuals who have made extraordinary contributions throughout their careers.

SASKATOON, SK, May 3, 2022 – The Oẏateki Partnership is a unique and unprecedented collaboration among three leading post-secondary education institutions in Saskatchewan designed to transform education and employment systems to support success for Indigenous youth.

REGINA – On May 3, the FutureNow event will bring undergraduate students from four of Saskatchewan’s major post-secondary institutions together to share their best research, scholarly, artistic, and applied work with Saskatchewan legislators.

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) tied for 58th place in the 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact overall rankings, which measured the success of more than 1,400 universities around the world in advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SASKATOON – As global temperatures rise, wildfires are becoming more common. A new study by University of Saskatchewan (USask) hydrology researchers found that exposure to wildfire smoke can cause glaciers to melt faster, affecting mountain runoff that provides major freshwater resources for life downstream.

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) Department of Music is hosting an intimate concert featuring the university’s collection of Amati instruments, one of the only complete Amati quartets in the world.

SASKATOON – The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) has announced it will be breaking ground for a state-of-the-art fire station along Preston Avenue, adjacent to the University of Saskatchewan (USask) main campus.

SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan Roughriders are returning to Saskatoon for Coors Light Training Camp as part of a three-year agreement with the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

SASKATOON – Two University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have been awarded $322,000 in total by a federal agency for developing drought and salinity-tolerant forage crops, and reducing heat stress in dairy cattle.

SASKATOON – Rural and remote Saskatchewan communities will benefit from an increased number of internationally trained family physicians through additional provincial funding to the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program.

SASKATOON – The Government of Saskatchewan has announced $2 million in new funding to the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) as part of its 2022-23 budget released on March 23.

SASKATOON – Three transdisciplinary research teams from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have been awarded almost $350,000 to discover solutions to lung health challenges.

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Medicine is making important changes to its medical doctor admissions approach to draw more applicants who reflect Saskatchewan’s population and ultimately stay to practice medicine here. The changes will be in effect for the next round of applications to the program, which are open from early August to October 1, 2022, with successful applicants starting the program in August 2023.

SASKATOON – A new report led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers reveals how industry practices are driving critical threats to global freshwater systems, including groundwater depletion, metal contamination, plastic pollution, and water diversion.

SASKATOON – A team of hydrologists from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and University of Calgary (UCalgary) comprises the Canadian contingent in an unprecedented international collaboration that aims to revolutionize flood predictions across North America.

SASKATOON – As part of a national initiative to mark the 50th anniversary of Gerhard Herzberg’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has partnered with heritage education organization Defining Moments Canada (DMC) to present the travelling exhibition Enterprises of the Human Spirit: 50 Years of Scientific Excellence in Germany and Canada.

SASKATOON – Individuals struggling with substance use disorders will now have greater access to improved care, thanks to a new training program for health care professionals. The provincial government has provided $255,000 in 2021-22 for the program, which aligns with their commitment to reduce the misuse of prescribed opioids.

SASKATOON – Internationally renowned virtual care pioneer Dr. Ivar Mendez (MD, PhD) of the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is leading a large group of experts to help the province develop a long-term strategy for delivering health services remotely

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is hosting a student sustainability trade show on Tuesday, April 5 from 2–4 pm in the atrium of the Agriculture Building on campus.

SASKATOON – More B.C. veterinary students will attend the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) on the University of Saskatchewan (USask) campus this August, following an investment from the Province of B.C. to double its number of subsidized seats for the first time in more than a decade.

SASKATOON – Prairie residents are in lockstep with fellow Canadians in saying COVID-19 and the 2021 federal election were the two biggest issues that divided the country over the past year.

SASKATOON – Bree Kelln has been selected as the new Beef Industry Integrated Forage Management and Utilization (IFMU) Chair for the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

SASKATOON — A large interdisciplinary team led by two University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers, which is collaborating with community service agencies in Saskatoon and Regina, has been awarded $390,000 by a federal agency to study the wider social and health impacts of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have been awarded more than $600,000 to catalyze innovative ideas and move research into real-world settings in the face of the growing challenge of addictions in the province.

SASKATOON – Nearly two years after researchers pooled resources to build a wildlife surveillance program, there’s proof that SARS-CoV-2 virus is circulating among free-ranging, white-tailed deer in Saskatchewan.

SASKATOON – The ancestors of many animal species alive today may have lived in a delta in what is now China, suggests new research published in Nature Communications by an international team including University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers.

OTTAWA – Canada is known as a water-rich nation, but we are not a water secure nation. Researchers warn that if a national strategy based on the latest science and Indigenous knowledge is not taken seriously and urgently, our water security could be in even greater peril, risking the lives, livelihoods and health of communities and the integrity of our natural environment.

OTTAWA – Members of the media are invited to attend a special World Water Day event live from Ottawa featuring the country’s top water scientists, Indigenous water leaders, policy makers, and politicians for a discussion and announcement on the state of water security in Canada. The event is hosted by the University of Saskatchewan-led Global Water Futures (GWF).

SASKATOON – The City of Saskatoon (City), the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and members of the Afghan community released a video today to highlight the strength of refugee communities in Saskatoon and to acknowledge the important role everyone can play in the growth and development of their communities.

SASKATOON – Two University of Saskatchewan (USask) projects have been awarded Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC) Alliance Grants totaling $885,000 for research aimed at developing novel technologies to improve productivity and profitability in the key agriculture and uranium sectors.

SASKATOON – A University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher has been awarded more than $175,000 from three major funding bodies to support a project that seeks to lower cancer rates of Métis peoples by using cultural connection as a prevention tool.

CALGARY – While Calgary is proudly known for the ‘C of Red,’ you can expect to see more green and white in the future.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) research shows therapy dogs can help reduce pain and improve well-being for people treated in emergency rooms.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have produced four videos—two each in Cree and Dene—to present the results of a project that partnered with seven Indigenous communities to study ways to build social and economic capacity for living well in the province’s North.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers set up a wastewater monitoring program that’s become the province’s sole reliable source for data on the prevalence of COVID-19. Now they have published a paper that provides a blueprint for other scientists to emulate their work.

SASKATOON – A new study reveals that an expected increase in wildfires due to climate change may lead to chemical reactions that cause destruction of the Earth’s protective ozone layer and slow its ability to recover. As global warming continues, it is likely that the scale and frequency of wildfires will increase, raising questions about how this will impact the planet’s protective ozone layer over time.

SASKATOON – Every time it rains, fish living downstream of storm drains are exposed to pollutants, including the tire-derived compound 6PPD-quinone, in the runoff. Recently, this substance has been linked to massive die-offs of coho salmon across the West Coast of the United States.

SASKATOON – Students from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy’s (JSGS) University of Saskatchewan (USask) and University of Regina (U of R) campuses placed second at the 2022 National Public Administration Case Competition.

SASKATOON – Art and mathematics may go hand-in-hand when building new and better materials for use in quantum computing and other quantum applications, according to University of Saskatchewan (USask) mathematician Dr. Steven Rayan (PhD).

SASKATOON – With Saskatchewan’s north home to a boreal forest that’s larger than Germany, and its south making up nearly half of Canada’s cropland, the province’s agriculture and lumber industries alone annually produce about 24 million tonnes of biomass residue.

SASKATOON – A team of University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers has built a tool designed to estimate a value for wetland services to help farmers, land planners and policy makers understand the benefits of wetland conservation in agriculture.

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has announced the 2022 winners of the Alumni Achievement Awards, one of the university’s highest honours.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) associate professor of drama Carla Orosz is undertaking a research project that will shine a spotlight on a major need in theatre—designing performance staging that is complementary to diverse skin colours.

WINNIPEG – Today, Protein Industries Canada announced a co-investment into the second phase of Canada’s National Index on Agri-Food Performance, alongside lead partners Pulse Canada and the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, with the support of David McInnes, Coordinator of the National Index on Agri-Food Performance.

SASKATOON – A University of Saskatchewan (USask) Computer Science and Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) team has been awarded $125,000 in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) to support the development of innovative greenhouse imaging and computing infrastructure.

SASKATOON – While they may not know it, farmers produce more than crops when they jump onto their tractor or combine. They are also generating data that is being consumed by agri-business firms and organizations.

SASKATOON – Two University of Saskatchewan (USask) research teams have been awarded more than $2.8 million in federal funding to address systemic inequities in the lives of Indigenous people in the areas of home life, mental and sexual health.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Shan Wang (PhD) has been awarded funding by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to investigate how to improve online discussion forums for students on e-learning platforms.

SASKATOON – Professor David Natcher from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has been appointed as the UArctic Chair in Water, Energy and Food (WEF) Security in the Arctic for the next five years.

SASKATOON – Diverting edible items from the landfill to improve food security is an easy cause to support. Removing the barriers to make it happen, however, can be complicated.

SASKATOON – Treating women diagnosed with one type of early-stage breast cancer with the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab after surgery reduces the risk of the cancer returning, reports a research team led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) oncologist Dr. Shahid Ahmed (MD).

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Kathryn McWilliams (PhD) has been awarded an honorary fellowship from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) of the United Kingdom.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Jeffrey McDonnell (PhD) has been named a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

SASKATOON – The Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN) is hosting the first annual Black Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine and Health (BE-STEMM) conference, to be held virtually on Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

SASKATOON – A new undergraduate degree program at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will fill a growing need for interdisciplinary training in both food science and nutrition.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have been awarded $4.2 million to develop livestock-related innovations that range from improving forage feed to advancing work on vaccines to tackle the global spread of African swine fever (ASF).

SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) announced the winners of the 18th annual Santé Awards to celebrate top health scientists in the province.

SASKATOON – The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has been awarded $295,000 by Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) for a project aiming to improve phosphorous and nitrogen uptake and efficiency in bread wheat – developments that would provide significant environmental and economic value in Canada and beyond.

SASKATOON—A University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher has been awarded $500,000 in funding through the federal government’s Canada Research Chair renewal program to support new insights into the development of “smart” radioactive pharmaceuticals that may be used as innovative treatments for cancers, brain disorders, and infectious diseases.

SASKATOON — The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is helping to develop a new, $1.08-million specialized training program targeted at preparing workers for the jobs agri-food sector employers are eager to fill.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have been awarded more than $5.7 million to develop crop-related innovations ranging from plant-based edible 3D printing and packaging to using drones for monitoring crops and soil health.

SASKATOON – A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team has discovered insights into the structure of the virus that causes COVID-19, possibly leading to new treatment options.

SASKATOON – Chemicals widely used in everyday life end up in wastewater that flows to rivers and lakes, potentially causing serious impacts to aquatic life.

SASKATOON – A strong partnership between University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Helen Baulch (PhD) and the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant is bringing cutting-edge monitoring equipment to Saskatchewan to advance lake science and safeguard drinking water for 260,000 people.

SASKATOON – Dr. Steven Webb (PhD), chief executive officer of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), is staying on in his leadership role at the institute. The update, provided by GIFS’ Board of Directors, followed an October announcement of Webb’s resignation for family reasons.

SASKATOON –  As the pandemic rolls through another year, University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers continue to seek out timely responses to the crisis based on scientific discovery.  

SASKATOON – That big skull tattoo on your arm? If you are a psychologist, don’t bother covering it up. Visible body art may no longer be perceived as the turnoff it once was.

SASKATOON – Saskatchewan agri-value startups have a new support system to help them succeed: the Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) is beginning its work of assisting startups and growing the agri-food industry in Western Canada.

SASKATOON – Canada and Saskatchewan’s strength in agriculture research and development now has an expanded footprint in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has announced a new international office in the South Asian country, as well as a new Research Chair in Food Security.

SASKATOON – On a recently published list, more than 130 University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers were featured prominently among the world’s top scientists, social scientists and academics, enhancing the university’s reputation as a world-class research university.

SASKATOON – Making parts of downtown more pedestrian-focused, creating more diversified housing close to the riverfront, and repurposing barren or underused properties to meet community needs are among key ideas gleaned in a study on making downtown Saskatoon a more desirable place to live.

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Agtech Accelerator, accentuating the university’s role in the innovation ecosystem and building a pipeline of talent for the agricultural industry.

SASKATOON – A University of Saskatchewan (USask) dentistry research team has proved the usefulness of a method of simulating tooth decay that can allow researchers to test new treatment options without a large expense.

SASKATOON – Acclaimed poet and community-based educator Zoey Roy (BEd’17, MPP’21) has been selected as the next Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence for an eight-week residency with the University Library at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) beginning in December.

SASKATOON – Today, the Métis Nation– Saskatchewan (MN–S) government and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) signed an agreement on Métis citizenship and identity. The agreement will ensure the university will rely on the objectively verifiable MN–S Citizenship Registry to assess eligibility for Métis based opportunities at the university. This is a precedent-setting partnership between a Canadian University and a Métis Government.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Arts and Science professor Dr. Raymond Spiteri (PhD) is the recipient of the 2021 Mitacs Award for Exceptional Leadership.

SASKATOON – Three of Saskatoon’s hospital foundations have partnered to donate $230,000 in support of Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).

REGINA – Two of Canada’s leaders in agriculture and agri-food education and applied research, Olds College and the University of Saskatchewan (USask), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in joint activities related to automation and increased incorporation of digital data in agriculture.

SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers from the College of Nursing and the College of Medicine are collaborating to improve the virtual care experiences of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Saskatchewan.

SASKATOON – The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and pewaseskwan—the Indigenous Wellness Research Group (IWRG) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask)—have signed a memorandum of understanding on Nov. 23 to commemorate the start of a research alliance.

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) fourth annual USask EcoHack event wrapped up after tallying the public vote on three shortlisted projects.

SASKATOON – As Thanksgiving rolls around in the United States, Americans will gobble up nearly 46 million turkeys over the holiday long weekend, just as Canadians devoured 2.5 million of the birds on this occasion in October.

SASKATOON – Pewaseskwan - the Indigenous Wellness Research Group based in the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Medicine, is hosting the Sask Stories Provincial Conference on HIV and Hepatitis C Wise/Promising Practices on November 25 and 26, 2021.

SASKATOON – The organizing committee of the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Viral Hepatitis is hosting a virtual conference about lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic by global Indigenous communities that are also impacted by viral hepatitis.

SASKATOON – A new partnership between the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Language Centre and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce (SCC) will support SCC members and their employees by delivering English courses geared toward professional development.