SCIENCE AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT
The Canadian Science Writers' Association is
holding its Annual General Meeting at the University of Saskatchewan campus
from June 7 to 10. Science writers from across the country are invited to
attend workshops on how to maintain a high calibre of science journalism in
the mass media. Sessions will also look at the future of nanotechnology, the
state of Canadian water supplies, where vaccine development is headed for SARS
and West Nile Virus, and the technical and ethical challenges of genomics.
Some keynote speakers include Bob McDonald,
host of CBC Radio's "Quirks and Quarks," Dan Falk, award-winning author and
science journalist, Jamie Bastedo, a 2002 Michael Smith Award winner and
science educator, and Peter McMahon, online producer for the Discovery Channel
Canada.
One of the highlights will be an exclusive
advance peek at Canada's first synchrotron facility, scheduled to open in
2004. The football-field-sized, $173.5-million Canadian Light Source produces
beams that are millions of times brighter than sunlight. Serving as a "super
microscope," the synchrotron will allow researchers in environmental sciences,
microelectronics, materials sciences and health, to analyze matter at the
atomic level with unprecedented precision and accuracy.
Conference participants may also tour the
Innovation Research Park, right next to the campus, where more than 100
institutes are housed in 18 buildings, and 2,000 employees carry out
cutting-edge research in agriculture, information technology and life
sciences.
DATE: June 7-10
PLACE: University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.
AGENDA AND REGISTRATION: On-line registration for the conference and
accommodations is available at www.sciencewriters.ca/.
MAD COW DISEASE UPDATE: Hot on the heels of the science writers' meeting, from
June 10 to 14, the Canadian Society of Animal Science will host its Annual
Meeting, also at the University of Saskatchewan. Timely topics will include
the safety of the Canadian meat supply, and particularly issues around
national security and Mad Cow disease. Leading beef cattle experts will be
available to the media for interviews.
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Conference Chair
Kathryn Warden
U of S/CLS Research Communications
Box 5000 RPO
University
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 4J8
(306) 966-2506
FAX: (306)
966-2411
www.usask.ca/research
www.lightsource.ca