BY DR. ERASMUS OKINE
HEADOF
THE CLASS
Investing in tomorrow
BEFORE LANDING AT THE
University of Lethbridge (U of L), I had
always been impressed by the volume and
quality of research that was being pro-
duced by a relatively small and tradition-
ally undergraduate-focused institution.
Upon closer inspection, I have gained an
even greater appreciation for the impact
this southern Alberta university has on
its region, the country and, really, the
entire world.
The history of southern Alberta is
directly linked to agriculture. The region
has more than a century’s rich heritage of
agricultural production, with advanced
practices in a wide variety of crops,
livestock and value-added agribusiness.
In light of these advances, how does a
university’s research portfolio make an
impact and what value can it add to a
community?
It is no coincidence that the U of L’s tra-
ditional research strengths are born out of
a regional need. Agriculture and agribusi-
ness, water, remote sensing and neurosci-
ence are some of these research areas that
have emerged as strengths for the univer-
sity because they tackle issues of regional
relevance. Our dialogue and partnerships
with the southern Alberta community help
shape our research mandate.
It is for this reason that the Potato
Growers of Alberta are funding a chair in
potato science at the U of L. The research
produced in collaborative efforts with our
partners will satisfy a regional need and
help maintain southern Alberta potato
producers and processors as industry lead-
ers. It is why, together with our federal
and provincial partners, we have produced
research data that allows for the selection
of cattle with lower methane and manure
production without a loss in productivity.
At the U of L, students, both under-
graduate and graduate, benefit from being
immersed in these research opportunities.
Research excellence attracts the best and
brightest students to the campus and to the
region, building an intellectual capacity
that otherwise would not exist. These op-
portunities also extend to high school stu-
dents and people from rural settings who
now have a gateway to scientific inquiry.
What is most exciting about the re-
search activities at the U of L is that, even
in the context of what has been achieved,
we are merely at a starting point for what
is to come.
The focus for our future is to build upon
our strengths by furthering transdisci-
plinary research collaborations, creating
new relationships and opportunities with
industry partners, and reinforcing the
intellectual infrastructure of the region.
Through AGILITY, a newly established
initiative designed to nurture innovation
and entrepreneurship, the university is
poised to reach into the community like
never before. Initially focusing on agricul-
ture and agribusiness, AGILITY will give
students a head start in entering the work-
force. Their research, nurtured through
an experiential approach supported by
regional business, other community-based
organizations and mentors, will tackle
issues of regional relevance. Students par-
ticipating in AGILITY will gain the skills
to innovate and start their own business-
es, to act as social entrepreneurs, or to be
agents of innovation and entrepreneurship
throughout their chosen careers.
In addition to launching AGILITY, the
U of L is in the final planning phases of
its Destination Project, which will see
new science facilities constructed on
its Lethbridge campus. The project will
create a facility that serves the university
in its teaching and research activities and
engages the community through high
school experiences; science outreach; and
connecting with industry, NGOs, and
government and community groups. With
a focus on creating a transdisciplinary
research experience, the Destination
Project is designed to encourage collabora-
tion across disciplines, bringing scientists
and researchers together to share re-
sources and expertise in order to achieve
a common scientific goal. Its world-class
facilities will enhance and support
entrepreneurship and social innovation,
and provide a hub for the community to
engage in scientific discovery for genera-
tions to come. This is science and social
innovation for the future.
Our role as a comprehensive research
institution is well defined and our vision is
clear. The U of L is committed to contin-
uing its upward trajectory in the research
landscape, providing solutions and
knowledge that inform policies and serve
as the backbone for the development of
sustainable prosperity in Alberta, Canada
and the world.
Dr. Erasmus Okine is the vice-president
(research) at the University of Lethbridge. He
joined the U of L in July 2015 from the Univer-
sity of Alberta.
SECURING THE FUTUREOF RESEARCH INSOUTHERNALBERTA
Winter
2016
Grains
West
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