Sept. 16, 2014

Three researchers elected to College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists

Royal Society of Canada creates new entity to support and promote emerging generation of intellectual leadership
Peer-elected to the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists from the University of Calgary are, from left: Nathalie Jette, Carolyn Emery, and Josephine Hill.

From left: Nathalie Jette, Carolyn Emery, and Josephine Hill.

Canada’s first national system to recognize “the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership” is getting off to a great start by electing three scholars from the University of Calgary.

Carolyn Emery, Josephine Hill and Nathalie Jette are among the first group of 80 scholars to join the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. The Royal Society of Canada is launching the organization to help it “benefit from the participation of exceptionally talented individuals in the earlier period of their careers.” They’re named for seven years — for a total of about 600 people who bring “diverse intellectual, cultural and social perspectives.”

Carolyn Emery, Faculty of Kinesology

“It’s an honour to be selected as a member of the inaugural society of new scholars,” says Emery, associate dean research, co-chair of the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre in the Faculty of Kinesiology, member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and professor in Pediatric Rehabilitation, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine. “It’s a really unique opportunity because we often travel in circles within our own field and we can always be informed by perspectives from outside our academic arena. I look forward to participating in this multidisciplinary environment.”

Emery is a physiotherapist, epidemiologist and population health researcher. Her research focuses on injury epidemiology, injury prevention in youth sport and recreation and pediatric rehabilitation.

Josephine Hill, Schulich School of Engineering

“I’m very pleased and honoured. It’s very nice recognition of the work that I have done,” says Josephine Hill, professor and Canada Research Chair in Hydrogen and Catalysis in the Schulich School of Engineering. “Undoubtedly, election to the College will open new doors and present fascinating opportunities, and so I am thankful to the university for the support.”

Hill’s research on catalysts — substances that increase reaction rates — is helping to increase the energy efficiency of processes using natural resources, thus decreasing impacts on the environment. Her world-class research facility develops, characterizes and tests catalysts used in fuel cells, hydrotreating and gasification.

Dr. Nathalie Jette, Cumming School of Medicine

“It is humbling and an honour to have been selected,” says Dr. Nathalie Jette, associate professor in clinical neurosciences and community health sciences, Canada Research Chair in Neurological Health Services Research in the Cumming School of Medicine and member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Institute for Public Health.

“I firmly believe that in order to succeed we must work together. I could not have received this honour without the support of those who mentored me and worked with me over the years.”  

Jette’s research develops and applies methods to detect, measure and manage neurological conditions including epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease and their outcomes. Ultimately her research program aims to improve neurological care.