UVic names top researchers for 2014

A scholar who helps us sort through the complex world of politics and public policy, a mathematician who is laying the groundwork for everyday devices and processes, a linguist who helps Indigenous communities revive their endangered languages, and a pianist who gives us a greater appreciation for musical expression—these are the recipients of the University of Victoria’s Craigdarroch Research Awards for 2014.

The awards, which honour outstanding research and creative contributions at UVic, will be presented tonight at an evening reception on campus.

“A passion for making a difference is a hallmark trait of all Craigdarroch recipients,” says Dr. Howard Brunt, UVic’s vice-president research. “They’re all leaders in their fields, exemplifying UVic’s commitment to excellence and the open exchange of knowledge with the wider community.”

The four recipients are:

James Tully (political science) whose work has implications for virtually all major areas of public policy, including democracy, federalism, multiculturalism, Indigenous rights, and environmental responsibility.
(David H. Turpin Gold Medal for Career Achievement in Research)

Peter Dukes (mathematics and statistics) who even at this early stage in his career is considered a world authority in a branch of math known as algebraic combinatorics, which has applications in fields as diverse as astrophysics, statistics and engineering.
(Craigdarroch Silver Medal for Excellence in Research)

Leslie Saxon (linguistics) who for 30 years has been a leader in the exchange and application of linguistic and cultural knowledge, working with Dene people in the NWT to document and revitalize their endangered languages.
(Craigdarroch Award for Excellence in Knowledge Mobilization)

Harald Krebs (music) who is one of Canada’s finest music theorists and a talented pianist, especially in the 19th-century German art song genre known as Lieder, which he performs regularly to share with music lovers in the community.
(Craigdarroch Award for Excellence in Artistic Expression)

The Craigdarroch Research Awards were established in 2003 to recognize outstanding research-focused and creative contributions at UVic. They were named for Craigdarroch Castle, the estate that was once home to UVic’s predecessor institution, Victoria College, from 1921 to 1946.
 

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