Research, education leader Martha Cook Piper to lead National Institute for Nanotechnology Board of Trustees
April 15, 2008, Edmonton, AB — Martha Cook Piper, a national leader in research and post-secondary education, has been named chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT), the institute announced today.
Piper, former president of the University of British Columbia and former vice-president (research and external affairs) at the University of Alberta, said she was drawn to the position in part because of the strong collaborative efforts and cutting-edge initiatives that define the institute. NINT is a joint initiative of the National Research Council, the University of Alberta and the Government of Alberta.
“The field of nanotechnology provides a foundational 21st century platform that will create opportunities for us to find the answers to critical questions facing society now and in the future — the solutions to complex problems that affect the world around us in almost every way,” Piper said. “The unique approach taken at NINT — bringing together the best minds, multiple disciplinary outlooks, and innovative partnerships — has created enormous amounts of energy and excitement to advance research and discovery.
“I share that energy and that sense of excitement, and it resonates through NINT and the accomplishments of its researchers, administrators and board members. I am so pleased to be in this leadership role as the institute moves forward.”
Piper succeeded Preston Manning April 1, 2008. Manning served as NINT board chair from the board’s inception in 2005 and played an integral role in improving NINT’s governance process and strengthening relationships among public and private sector stakeholders. He will continue as a board member. The NINT Board of Trustees has the responsibility for establishing the strategic direction for NINT.
“Piper’s extensive knowledge of the international research community and strong leadership and vision are valuable additions to the Board,” said acting board chair Chris Lumb. “She will be a great asset as we chart the long-term strategy for the institute.”
The National Institute for Nanotechnology is multi-disciplinary research institute that aims to develop new technology solutions for the environment, life sciences, energy and information and communication technologies applications. Its unique partnership between the National Research Council of Canada, the University of Alberta and the Government of Alberta enables novel approaches to technology transfer and commercialization. Established in 2001, it has become nationally and internationally recognized for the revolutionary work it conducts at the nano-scale, the level of individual atoms or molecules. Housed in a $52.2-million, 14,000-square-metre facility on the University of Alberta campus, it is world-renowned for its research facilities, which include specialized spaces for laboratories in chemical and biochemical synthesis and analysis of the materials structure at the atomic scale, as well some of Canada’s quietest laboratory space.
Under the direction of Director General Nils Petersen, NINT fosters multi-disciplinary, cross-faculty collaboration from fields as diverse as physics, engineering, chemistry, biology, informatics, pharmacy and medicine. It is considered a critical initiative in Canada’s ability to share in a global nanotechnology market that is projected to be worth $100 billion by the year 2020.
“NINT, with its collaborative structure and unique partnerships — that includes industry, governments and the university — can serve as a model or platform for other similar endeavors,” Piper said. “Even given its great accomplishments, NINT still is a young, promising institute. It has enormous potential to help catapult Alberta and Canada into global prominence in nanotechnology, through work that leads to innovation as it draws together diverse disciplines around common challenges.
“I look forward to being a part of the NINT board of trustees and helping NINT meet its goals.”
Additional information on National Institute for Nanotechnology is available at www.nint.nrc.gc.ca
For more information please contact: |
|
|
Sandra Halme University of Alberta 780.492.0442 sandra.halme@ualberta.ca |
|
Backgrounder
Martha Cook Piper
Born in Lorain, Ohio, Martha C. Piper received her B.Sc. (1967) in physical therapy from the University of Michigan, her M.A. (1970) in child development from the University of Connecticut, and her Ph.D. (1979) in epidemiology and biostatistics from McGill University. Upon completion of her PhD, Piper was appointed director of the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University. In 1985, she joined the University of Alberta as dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, and was appointed vice-president Research in 1993. The portfolio was expanded in 1995 to include external affairs. From 1997 to 2006, Piper served as the eleventh president and vice-chancellor of the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Piper’s commitment to the advancement of research has established her as a leader in the academic community. She has served as a board member of the Alberta Research Council (ARC), the Canada Israel Industrial Research Foundation, the Edmonton Economic Development Board, Telecommunications Research Labs (TR Labs), the Centre for Frontier Engineering Research, the Interim Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, and the Conference Board of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed her to the National Advisory Board on Science and Technology in 1994 and, in 1996, to the board of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology, a position she held until 2004. In 1997, she was appointed as a member of the Canada Foundation for Innovation. In 1998, she was appointed to the board of directors of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, and became a member of the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation. She also has served as a member of the British Columbia Progress Board, and on the board of directors for the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation and the National University of Singapore Council. She has served as a public governor of the board for the Canadian Academies. She currently is on the board of directors of the Bank of Montreal, TransAlta Corporation, PrioNet Canada and Shoppers Drug Mart, and is a member of the Canadian delegation to the Trilateral Commission.
Martha Piper has received honorary degrees from McGill University (D.Sc., 1998), Dalhousie University (LL.D., 1999), University of Toronto (LL.D., 2001), the University of Western Ontario (D.Sc., 2002), the University of Melbourne (LL.D., 2003), University of Saskatchewan (LL.D., 2005), St. Francis Xavier University (LL.D., 2006), University of Victoria (LL.D., 2006), University of Calgary (LL.D., 2006), University of Alberta (LL.D., 2006), Université de Montréal (Doctorate, 2006), McMaster University (D.Sc., 2006), University of Northern British Columbia (LL.D., 2007), University of British Columbia (LL.D., 2007), and University of Windsor (LL.D. 2007). She was named Educator of the Year by The Learning Partnership in 2004. In 2003, Piper was named an officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2005 she was a recipient of the Order of British Columbia. In 2006, The Instituto Technologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) recognized Piper for her contributions to higher education, which marked the first time that a non-Mexican has received such an honour. Part of her legacy at the University of Alberta is the Martha Cook Piper Research Prize, awarded annually to two faculty members at the University of Alberta who are at an early-career stage and who show outstanding promise as researchers.
NINT Board of Trustees
The National Institute for Nanotechnology’s governance protocol determines that the Board of Trustees is appointed by, and reports to, the institute’s Oversight Committee, which comprises the presidents of the National Research Council (NRC) and the University of Alberta, and the deputy minister of the Government of Alberta’s department of Advanced Education and Technology. There are 12 appointed members and four ex-officio members of the board of trustees.
