2002 Spark Stories
November 15, 2002: Children's
pain study by U of S Psychology grad student wins prestigious international
award
By Kristina Bergen
A U of S graduate student has received the prestigious Starbright Foundation Dissertation Award for a unique on-line program to treat headaches and abdominal pain in children.
November 1, 2002: U of
S research finds Tarzan & Jane navigate differently
By Kristina Bergen
While Tarzan swung through the jungle following his keen sense of direction, Jane used landmarks such as the tree house to find her way. Why? Because men and women navigate differently.
November 1, 2002: Study
to look at effect of kids' activities on obesity
By Kristina Bergen
Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits have created a burgeoning childhood obesity epidemic in Canada that contributes to alarming rates of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health problems.
October 18, 2002: Team
to see if higher bone mass in youth prevents osteoporosis
By Kristina Bergen
University of Saskatchewan researchers are trying to prevent later-life osteoporosis by tracking bone mass development from childhood to early adulthood - work that will result in the most comprehensive data in the world on bone mineral accrual from childhood to adult years.
October 4, 2002: Biomass
= environmentally friendly electricity
By Kristina Bergen
A "green" energy source abundant in Saskatchewan's northern forests could be used to provide environmentally friendly electricity, says a University of Saskatchewan chemical engineer.
September 20, 2002: Prof.
says 'WIMPZILLAS' source of high-energy cosmic rays
By Kristina Bergen
Ultra-high energy (UHE) cosmic rays travelling at nearly the speed of light shoot through the galaxy from all directions, striking Earth's atmosphere roughly every six seconds.
September 6, 2002: Education
team to study Sweden's literacy success
By Kristina Bergen
Roughly 40 per cent of Canadian adults lack the literacy skills to fully function in society, while the comparable rate in Sweden is only 26 per cent, according to international studies.
September 6, 2002: 'Digital
X-ray' is cheaper, better & less painful mammogram
By Kristina Bergen
Mammograms could soon become less painful, cheaper and more effective in detecting breast cancer, thanks to the work of a University of Saskatchewan researcher and colleagues across Canada.
August 9, 2002: Olfactory
ensheathing cells may help to treat MS
By Kristina Bergen
The best hope for restoring function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients might well lie in their own noses, according to award-winning research by a University of Saskatchewan graduate student and his supervisor.
April 26, 2002: Two-step
weaning process dramatically cuts calves’ stress
By Melissa Kallas
A small bit of plastic attached to a calf’s nose can drastically reduce the animal’s stress at weaning
time, say University of Saskatchewan veterinary scientists.
April 12, 2002: Huge
study of co-ops to look at their role in social cohesion
By Andrew Koeman
With more than 15 million members across the country – one in every two citizens – co-operatives are
key to the understanding the impact of globalization on Canadian communities.
March 29, 2002: Singh searches
for ‘magic bullet’ to fight lung inflammation
By Melissa Kallas
Lung disease caused by exposure to bacteria kills more than 100,000 North Americans per year and
costs the cattle industry nearly $1 billion annually. Particularly at risk are farm workers routinely
exposed to bacteria-laden barn dust.
March 15, 2002: Peters ‘filling
in blank spot’ on urban Aboriginal experience
By Shauna Rempel
Geographers have paid relatively little attention to the unique circumstances of Aboriginal people in
cities, says one of Canada’s most accomplished social geographers.
March 1, 2002: VIDO’s
vaccine work fights harmful bacteria
By Elizabeth Frogley
Promising new animal vaccines being developed at the University of Saskatchewan offer hope for protecting humans against harmful parasites and bacteria like those that caused the tainted water trouble in North Battleford, Sask. and Walkerton, Ont.
February 8, 2002: Schissel
looks for alternatives to locking up ‘at-risk’ youth
By Elizabeth Frogley
While some young offenders need to be in custody due to their violent crimes, for most youth incarceration just makes them more likely to re-offend and commit more serious crimes, a U of S sociologist says.
January 25, 2002: Team studies
lucrative idea of shipping GM & non-GM crops
By Elizabeth Frogley
Was it inviting trouble when University of Saskatchewan scientists named their first genetically modified (GM) crop after the homicidal, three-legged plants from the science fiction novel Day of the Triffids?
January 11, 2002: NSERC-funded
project aims to find out what cows think
By Elizabeth Frogley
Why do cows get stressed in large groups? Do they recognize other cows? What do they know about
each other?
