University of Alberta Folio

Volume 36 Number 17 Edmonton, Canada May 7, 1999

http://www.ualberta.ca/folio

Dr. Chris Holmes

Health Canada issues warning after U of A researcher discovers health threat

Research conducted by a U of A biochemist prompted Health Canada to issue a warning that blue-green algae health food products may contain a toxin harmful to the liver and, despite unfounded reports it can be used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, should not be given to children.

Full Story Inside

The battle of the student "bulge"
You could almost say the students will be marching two by two - not exactly heading to the safety of an ark - but rather, knocking on the 17 admission doors of Ontario universities. Many will be wondering, `do I have a spot?'
It's a question parents, students and high-school guidance counsellors are asking these days.

$1.6 million lights up laser research chair
"The University of Alberta is quickly becoming famous in Canada for engineering excellence," said Dr. Tom Brzustowski, president of NSERC. "This is U of A's fifth chair currently funded by NSERC and each is in a different aspect of engineering."

Native Viennese supports graduate studies of his homeland
"This is of course closer to my heart, inasmuch as I originally wanted to support efforts on the part of the Faculty of Arts in the direction of central European and Austrian history," says Dr. Joseph Kandler.

Book explores history of public debt in Canada
"It's what I call the collective amnesia of Albertans," says Ascah, referring to the province's forgotten failure to make good on mature government bonds in 1936.

U of A students score high in global battle of the brains
The ACM International Collegiate Programming contest is dubbed the oldest and most prestigious computer programming competition in the world and has a 23-year history.

Living in residence for student credit
Imagine a world where the lawn never needs mowing, your water consumption is negligible, your heating bills are down and you don't know what to do with the extra money?

Magazine promotes dialogue across language divide
What could make more sense in a bilingual country than a hip, intellectual magazine published in both languages simultaneously, one that opens up dialogue between the "two solitudes" in a thoughtful and provocative way, fruitfully occupying the territory between popular culture and the academic journal?

Number 99 hits the highway with solar power
Call it a bold experiment: "Our goal is basically to build Alberta's first-ever solar car," says public relations director Arthur Chan. "Making it down to the race is really special and doing well would just be the icing on the cake."

ILO is 'at your service'
"Our main clientele are our researchers. I'd like to focus on stronger services to researchers." Dr. Peter Robertson explains the focus will complement the strong drive to bring in the dollars. "The revenue will come if we provide good services. And it's important to communicate that to our community."

Hot Stuff!
"I was an expert at travelling across borders with food," jokes sociologist and criminologist Dr. Jim Creechan. He had to - there were hardly any Mexican chiles available in Canada twenty years ago. "And the tortillas were pathetic, too."

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