DECEMBER 3, 2003 MUGGS Crib Tourney is a huge success Over 50 students sign up for evening _cribbage match By Rory Conroy Percy Taker, director of MUGGS was determined to put on a suc- cessful night and he did just that! It took three weeks of hard work and dedication but the results were nothing short of a resounding success! Competition and camaraderie in equal measures permeated the evening of November 14 as the 51 players who entered the tourna- ment squared off across their respective tables. By 10:00 the field had been narrowed down to the finalists. The winners were: 1st Place - Allan Stroet 2nd Place - Wray Ahlstrom 3rd Place - Steve Finnigan The payout was approximately $130 and the association actually made money! Don’t miss your chance to play, get even and have fun when MUGGS has a follow-up tournament in January. If you have an interest in other games, in helping out or in joining MUGGS, contact the executive at muggs@unbc.ca. MUGGS, the Mature UnderGrad - Grad Students Association is open to all stu- dents. Our mission is to be a resource and a voice for new and return- ing students. MUGGS would like to express a special thank you to Sheldon, Mark, Doug and Hilda for helping out at the table and at the tourna- ment. - WOW ! ‘Travel On An Amazing International Program! Are YOU ready? to discover other countries and other regions of Canada? to learn about social justice and development issues? to live and work with people from other cultures? Canada World Youth has international volunteer programs for youth 17-24. Contact CWY at www.cwy-jcm.org or toll free 1-866-7-VOYAGE. Apply now for programs that start summer 2004! NEWS 5 UNBC’s industry Liaison office promotes scientific research Government increases funding to promote growth and industry in the North By Kathleen De Vere Last week the provincial gov- ernment said that it would be kick- ing an extra $100,000 dollars UNBC’s way. The money will be used by UNBC to develop research projects into new business ven- tures, which will hopefully create jobs and new economic growth for Northern BC, according to Advanced education minister Shirley Bond, who announced the funding on behalf of Rick Thorpe, Minster of Competition, Science and Enterprise. The money is specifically ear- marked for UNBC’s industry liai- son office, which concentrates on moving UNBC’s research advances into the market place. Much of UNBC’s | technical research could yield profitable marketplace advances, especially in fields like forestry, health, fish- eries and agriculture. The university’s industry liaison office fosters scientific research by performing a variety of tasks, including fostering collaborative research, assisting in building UNBC’s research capacity, helping researchers secure intellectual property, providing protection for the results of research, and aiding in the commercial development of research. UNBC researchers are excited about the prospect of increased funding and “keen to work with all community sectors to provide new information and support,” said UNBC president Charles Jago. “This funding will help researchers establish links with potential partners to resolve both community and industry issues. This is a key component of build- ing community capacity in the North.” . Much of UNBC’s technical research could yield prof- jtable marketplace advances, espe- cially in fields like forestry, health, fisheries and agri- culture. One of the examples of the numerous technology transfer pro- jects funded by the university industry liaison office is a joint project between the university and Canfor. UNBC researchers are working with Canfor’s North Central Plywood plant in here in Prince George on utilising beetle kill lumber. Trees infected by the mountain pine beetle ogten die before being harvested, which results in the wood being very dry before it reaches the mill, where all the dryers are adjusted to dealing with freshly harvested, moist wood. Using the university’s high-per- formance computer, they are creat- ing a mathematical model to help the mill make best use of this unusually dry wood, to avoid either wasting energy by overdry- ing, or wasting wood by failing to dry it enough. “Research and development is vital to the forest products indus- try for improving our products and processes and creating effi- ciencies - for example, this research partnership could lead to cost reductions in plywood pro- duction,” said David Emerson, president and CEO of Canfor. “It’s one example that illustrates the value of having expertise here where we live and work.” There was.no mention of if and when the physics department's work on quantum teleportation would become part of the industry liaison office’s projects. New Regional Chair Appointed for the North-West Region Dr. Judith Lapadat was recently appointed to the position of Regional Chair of the North-West Region. Dr. Lapadat has been a member of the UNBC community for ten years, and is also an artist and published poet. “I feel a really deep connection to this part of BC, and I’m eager to begin my new job as a visible face for UNBC. I’m a big believer in the region and a big believer in the role UNBC can play to expand educational * opportunities and disseminate relevant research and information,” said Dr. Lapadat. Dr. Lapadat will begin her new position in July 2004. She replaces Dr. Leslie King. UNBC Receives Funding for Northern Research UNBC received $584 000 on November 28, 2003 to assist northern- focused research. The Federal Indirect Costs program aids researches in ‘offsetting indirect research costs such as equipment costs and wages for assistants. “UNBC is a very research-intensive university, with many of our faculty involved in answering questions that relate to social, eco- nomic, environmental, technological, and cultural issues of northern BC and its communities. Ultimately, the funding will allow UNBC to engage in even more research. This provides immediate economic benefits as well as long-term impacts on our quality of life in the North,” said Max Blouw, Vice-President for Research at UNBC.