Woo Hoo! Dr. Jennifer Foote, Algoma U prof!

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA UNIVERSITY

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Algoma prof receives funding  for communication behaviour research
 
Canada Foundation for Innovation announces $26K in funding from national competition for Algoma University's Dr. Foote

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (January 24, 2012) - Dr. Gilles G. Patry, Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) president and chief executive officer, announced their latest round of Leader's Opportunity Fund project's recipients today, including over $26,000 in funding [for] Algoma University's Dr. Jennifer Foote.

Through the fund, Canadian researchers receive support for state-of-the-art facilities and/or equipment.
 
"Canadians from coast to coast to coast can be assured that Canada's research community is bringing its talents to bear on the problems that matter to them," said Dr. Patry, CFI president and CEO. "This round of investment illustrates the value of research and innovation in building stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities."
 
Dr. Jennifer Foote, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, will receive $26,460 towards the purchase of an innovative new wireless acoustic-location system,specialized night-call microphones, and playback technology for studying avian communication networks and monitoring migration of birds along the shores of Lake Superior.
 
"Without this funding, I would be unable to study communication behaviour on this large a scale, so I am really excited to have this opportunity to grow my research program," commented Dr. Foote. "I am grateful to CFI for enabling me to do cutting-edge research in animal communication; to place Canada at the forefront of new high-technology research approaches to the study of network dynamics."
 
Bryan Hayes, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie said: "I am proud to be a member of a government that supports organizations, like the CFI, in their endeavour to ensure that our local research talent has the infrastructure and support they need to compete."
 
Foote says her research may also help us to better understand the environmental impact of alternative energy strategies such as solar and wind turbines on Canadian wildlife.

She is excited to soon be able to offer hands-on research experience to a number of undergraduate biology students.
 
"Algoma University has a growing biology program and the university is in a really exciting period of growth," said Dr. Foote. "I can't wait to get students in the field.... It's one of the main reason why I studied at, and chose to teach at, a smaller university - for that one-on-one quality interaction."
 
Dr. David Schantz, vice president, academic and research, Algoma University, echoed Dr. Foote's excitement: "Algoma University is beginning to be known for communication behavior research and many other interesting areas of inquiry. This latest announcement of Dr. Foote's success in a national funding competition is a further demonstration that as a small university, we offer outstanding opportunities for our students and faculty that result in leading edge endeavours worthy of wide recognition. This is a great way to start 2012! We're proud of Dr. Foote's success in receiving this research funding and look forward to her findings over the coming years."
 
Dr. Foote expects the project to begin this coming spring and continue for five to 10  years.

About Algoma University 

Algoma University is committed to offering an undergraduate education experience unlike any university in Ontario, offering a wide variety of program options.

Algoma University also offers accelerated diploma-to-degree programs in Business Administration in Brampton, and two degrees, including a Bachelor of Social Work, in Timmins.

As a partner with Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, Algoma U is committed to respecting Anishinaabe knowledge and culture. To learn more about Algoma University, visit here.
 
About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

The CFI gives researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada's universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI is helping to attract and retain the world's top talent, to train the next generation of researchers, to support private-sector innovation, and to create high-quality jobs that strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all Canadians.

For more information, visit this website.  

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