Trent researchers continue to excel

By Bonnie Patterson
President and Vice-Chancellor

One of the truly remarkable accomplishments of Trent University is the success our faculty members continue to enjoy in their fields of research.

Not only do we outperform every other university of our size across Canada, but we outdo most of the big institutions as well. Last year, for example, external research funding for Trent totaled $5.5 million, or roughly double the amount received just five years earlier.

Trent researchers were recently awarded six new three-year grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (sshrc). Another 13 of our faculty members hold installments from previous grants, bringing the total value of sshrc research grants held at Trent for 2000-01 to $287,528, a 10 per cent increase over the previous year. These grants support important research work across all subject areas, from history, geography and native studies to biology, chemistry and physics.

In addition 31 science faculty will hold a total of more than $890,000 in research grant support during the coming year from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (nserc) and four equipment grants valued at close to $90,000, representing a three per cent increase over 1999-2000. And a Major Facilities Access grant of $193,500 has been awarded to a team of researchers to support the Trent University Water Quality Centre.

The numbers are even more impressive when you consider that most Trent faculty undertaking this research carry full teaching loads as well.

To all our faculty involved in research, congratulations for a job well done.

There are other exciting developments too. Last year we turned a corner in enrolment, modestly increasing our admissions. This year we have seen another 25 per cent increase in Ontario secondary school applications for next September, and increases have been across all programs.

Our fund raising campaign continues to make great progress. We have now surpassed $11 million of our $17 million goal.

We have made good progress in retiring our operating deficit. This first year of a three-year Plan for Recovery has been successfully implemented and, while there is still much to do, we have met our targets to begin Trent's economic recovery.

Now we are just around the corner from convocation, one of the most exciting times in university life when we see our successful graduates cross the stage. I look forward to seeing you there June 2. 

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