February 23, 2005 | News Page 3 Geographical Research Unravels the Future NEWS By EvtzsBeTH FYLES STAFF WRITER Research is constantly in progress at UNBC in all of its faculties, and the Geography Department is no excep- ton. UNBC geomorphologist Brian Menounos is using his expertise to enable him to predict the future by looking at the earth’s past. It is not common knowledge outside of the geography faculty exactly what a geomorphologist does and what a their research entails. In his work Menounos studies the earth’s surface and land- forms and how they change over time. Menounos looks backwards, trying to discover information about what geographical events may have hap- pened in the past. He specializes in reconstructing glacial fluctuations, which he does by studying sediment cores from lakes. These sediment cores help to predict extreme runoff events such as large floods, landslides and glacial retraction and extension. This research information may help him decipher what-could happen in the future - a process similar to using tree rings to learn how past conditions affected the growth of the tree, and how trees will be affected by similar conditions in the future. When asked whether he thought that UNBC gets the attention it deserves from outside Universities and researchers, Mcnounos answered “we do get deserved attention [even though] it is such a small school. It is hard to compete with the larger schools like UBC and SFU because there are so many more people doing research in those schools.” However, he also noted ee Proto By Ro’ VAN ADRICHEM Brian Menounos is a geography professor at UNBC whose research into the glacial fluctuations of the past may help uncover the future. that because of our small size, research grants are increased in proportion to the larger schools, which makes it a lit- tle easier to get the research started. Menounos has been at UNBC for two ycars, coming from previous posi- tions at UBC and SFU. When asked how he liked UNBC, he said that he was impressed with the caliber of research done here. He liked the fact that so many different departments can come together for research purposes. “A multi-disciplinary approach is used a lot here at UNBC because there are many problems which necd exper- tise from many different arcas of study,” said Menounos. “Often larger schools do not have the small departments that make this approach as feasible as at UNBC,” he added. “Working together on a prob- lem that requires solving is a better approach than having specific faculues working on a problem by themsclves and not sharing information.” UNBC also offers plenty of opportu- nities for students to participate in the research process and gct their informa- tion out into the world so it can be used for further research and study, accord- ing to Menounos. “Tt is very important to get the stu- dents involved because they may soon be starting their own research. There are ways that the pinfessors and researchers try students involved, [such as when they] incorpo- rate their research into their lectures and assignments,” said Menounos. “There are pester ‘sessions held where students at both graduate and and get undergraduate levels can present their own research projects. These outlets for résearch discussion ar¢ an important part of the research process and should not be ignored.” GRAPIUC PROVIDED An architectural rendition of the new teaching and learning centre, which is scheduled to open for classes in January 2007. $31.8 million from provincial government for library expansion and new building on campus CONTINUED FROM COVER “Once of the goals we have sct for B.C. over the next decade is to have the best educated population in North America, and investing in the future of UNBC is critical to achieving that goal,” said the Premier during the press conference. “This investment will further improve access to UNBC’s cxccllent programs for young pcople across the proyince.” “The government’s investment will provide UNBC with the infrastruc- ture it needs to continue growing, especially in high-demand programs like business, nursing, education’ and computer science,” said Dr. Charles Jago, University President and Vice Chanccllor. “This expansion will touch every student and program at UNBC and cnable us to grow in arcas that are key to our mandate of being a university that is responsive to. the North.” MLA Shirley Bond, Ministcr of Health and Deputy Premicr, MLA Pat Bell, Minister of Mines and Energy, Dr. Charles Jago, Mayor Colin Kinsley, Premier Campbell, ‘and two UNBC students spoke at the press conference. Tuition Promises Receive Mixed Reviews from CFS CONTISUED FROM GOUER When asked how the CFS felt about university administrator’s con- cerns over the legislation, Mcalcy said. “We don’t buy their argument. and we're disappointed that administra- tors aren't pushing for more accessible education in B.C, First of all, it does- n't take into account where the fees are now.” “Tuition tec levels are too high as is, the government has essentially. frozen university funding since they took office - that is what is responsible for the funding shortfall. University Administrators should join students in fighting for more funding. These shortfalls shouldn't be made up with tuition feces,” he said. Mcealcy was also skeptical about the Liberals ainouncement for increased university funding, “For entire system, $132 million is an absolute joke, when you consider that students in B.C. paying $400 mil- hon more this year than they were in 2001,” said Mealey, “The inerease in funding is madequate.” “Our stance on the Throne Specch is this: if the government is scrious about access, immediately reduce tuition fees to 2001 levls, and increase funding,” said Mealey, New Aboriginal Teaching Program UNBC will be starting a new program in Terrace this May that is aimed at increasing the number of aboriginal school teachers in northern BC, The Aboriginal Teacher Education Bridging program (ATEB) will be offered at UNBC’s Terrace campus. Currently, only about 2°%o of the school teachers in BC are aboriginal, despite the fact abo- riginal students make up-7% of the BC student population, UNEBC helps to expand UArctic UNBC has created an International Academic Office for the Vuiversity of the Arctic, which will serve to enhance UNBC’s role in the unique UArctic partnership. The International Academic Otfice (AO) at UNBC will coorcinate all of the student records for the UAretic, regard- less of where the students are studying. The Office will also keep track of which courses at the partner colleges or univer- sities are transferable to the Bachelor — of Stuclics. Circumpolar The UAretic is a parmership among more than 70 northern ulliversities, and research institutes. Although: it colleges, lacks its own physical campus, the UArctic courses through its partners - cither on the campuses of those institu- tions or via the offers Internet. Credits are carned towards completing a Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies. There are currently «students in Scandinavia, Russia, Finland, Canada,and the United States. Students Create Sustainable Landscaping The School of Environmental Planning at UNBC is partuering with the City of Prince Gcorge and REAPS to create nearly $2 mil- lion dollars worth of sustain- able landscaping around the city over the next five years. The project will involve a mix of test planting and seced- ing on various sites, trial plots, demonstration gardens, and laboratory research, all aimed at discovering the most sustain- able, environnicntally friendly, and cost cffective landscape treatments for Prince Gcorge’s climate. The partnership is expected to result in 30 aeres of City property being converted to low-mow grass and wildflower mixes in place of highcr main- tenance lawns, as well as vari- ous combinations of native and north-hardy shrubs and perén- nials.