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Forward-Thinking Graduate Students Aim to Make a Difference

Geography graduate student David Laporte is looking for ways to bring wind power to UVic. His research involves exploring wind energy development projects taking place at educational institutions around the world, showing how similar projects could be implemented at the University of Victoria.

Laporte is one graduate student among several in the Faculty of Social Sciences who are aiming to make a difference by selecting research topics that address environmental issues of the day. For example, environmental studies student James Biggar is devising ways for UVic to tackle climate change. Lise Townsend, also in environmental studies, is exploring options for the conservation, restoration and future management of Swan Lake.

These are just a few examples of a wide range of research projects that will be showcased at “Puzzle Pieces,” a Social Sciences Annual Graduate Symposium taking place on March 30t from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the upper lounge of the Student Union Building.

Media Contacts:
Jeff Ralph (graduate student on the symposium organizing committee), 250-721-6352 (work) at 381-0233 (home) or jralph@uvic.ca
Suzanne Smith (Social Sciences Communications) at 250-472-4496 or suzanne@uvic.ca

Pie Heals

Once again, the University of Victoria Engineering Students Society’s Order of Pi has orchestrated an extremely successful fundraising campaign with its “Cream Pie a Friend for Charity” event this month. This year the Order of Pi creamed 85 people and raised $2,759.06 for the Queen Alexandra Hospital for Children. During the five day event a donation of at least $10 from an “accuser” brought a team of musical monks, equipped with the latest in medieval pieing equipment, to a location chosen by the accuser. When the accused was found guilty of the charge he or she received a cream pie in the face. To be found innocent, the accused had to donate five dollars more than the previous donation and lay charges against someone they knew to be deserving of the justice of Pi. “Even though this year was a huge success, I believe that it is always possible to raise more and have even greater visions for years to come,” says the society’s Chris Chmara. The Order of Pi has been the society’s annual fundraiser since 1993.

Media Contacts:
Chris Chmara (UVic Engineering Students Society) at 250-721-8822 or
cell 250-858-3077 or pi@engr.uvic.ca
Maria Lironi (UVic Communications) at 250-721-6139 or lironim@uvic.ca

UVic media releases and other resources for journalists are available on the World Wide Web at http://communications.uvic.ca/media