Discovery Awards 2009

Recipients

The following awards recognize the talented individuals and outstanding companies whose exemplary work in science and technology inspire us all. The awards also promote an awareness of, and pride in, the nationally and internationally recognized work that Nova Scotians are doing.


Science Champion An award that recognizes the devotion of our working scientists or technology professionals, or full time science teachers/professors in Nova Scotia to the promotion of science and technology to the public. The recipients of this award are role models who make science fascinating and accessible.
	Truis Smith-Palmer Truis Smith-Palmer, Ph.D., is an analytical chemist and Professor in the Department of Chemistry, St. Francis Xavier University. For the past 25 years, she has put on science presentations in the Antigonish region, now under the banner X-Chem Outreach. Movie

Professional of Distinction
An award that recognizes our world-class science and technology researchers or developers who have demonstrated ingenious and innovative thinking in the creation of unique ideas, concepts, perspectives and processes in their field. The recipients of this award have also demonstrated the social and/or economic benefit of their work to society.
Susan Bryson Susan Bryson, Ph.D., is a Professor of Pediatrics at Dalhousie University, and a world-recognized authority on autism. Her honors include the 2002 Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her outstanding contribution to autism research and her efforts to help the autism community. Movie

Emerging Professional of Distinction An award that recognizes post-secondary science and technology students, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, or practicing professional, 35 years of age or under who live and study in Nova Scotia. The recipients of this award demonstrate intellectual achievement, excellence and the potential for ongoing growth and development.
	Marie-Claude Gregoire Marie-Claude Gregoire, MD, MSc, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Dalhousie University, staff physician of the IWK Pediatric Palliative Care Service, and has nearly completed a Ph.D. in Dalhousie’s interdisciplinary studies program. Movie

Innovation Award
An award that recognizes a team of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding innovative work and entrepreneurial spirit in successfully transforming a unique science or technology concept into a viable business opportunity.
Origin BioMed Inc. Origin Biomed Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of plant-based drugs for the relief of nerve pain. Origin Biomed employs over 30 people, and markets products including Neuragen® in over 28,000 pharmacies throughout North America. The lives of thousands of people suffering from neuropathic pain (such as country music star and company spokesperson George Canyon) have been improved courtesy of Origin Biomed. Movie

Youth Science Award An award that recognizes the remarkable achievements of our young scientists, youth who have shown excellence and innovation as recognized by their peers at the Team Nova Scotia Showcase ( a provincial science fair held every spring).
Todd Mercer Todd Mercer is a first year student at Cape Breton University and this is his second consecutive Nova Scotia Youth Science Award! For his science fair project, Todd designed The “Mow-Pod”, a hovering lawnmower. The theories proposed by Todd were tested at Dalhousie University with interesting results. Todd was the winner in his school’s science fair the last three years. Todd has competed as part of Team Nova Scotia at the Canada Wide Science Fair from 2007-2009 where he brought home a Silver Medal in the intermediate engineering category, the Petro-Canada Peer Innovation Award, the S.M. Blair Family Foundation Award for the project most deserving of a patent, and an Honourable Mention in the Senior Engineering category! Todd plans on pursuing a career in the field of Science and Technology and he hopes that someday one of his creations could help improve the everyday lives of people. Movie

Hall of Fame This award recognizes current or former Nova Scotians who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to society through scientific and technological discovery and invention ,are inducted into the Hall of Fame . These individuals are role models for young Nova Scotians who may pursue careers in science and technology.
	Brian Hall Brian Hall, Ph.D., is an evolutionary developmental biologist and Professor Emeritus at Dalhousie University. His prodigious research focuses on the development of neural crest cells, a group of embryonic cells that form in the developing nervous system, then migrate to form bones, cartilage and teeth in the head. His research has been crucial to evolutionary science and to the understanding of developmental conditions such as cleft palate. The numerous awards he has received include the Kawalevsky Medal, honoring the eight most influential evolutionary biologists in the 20th century. Movie

Oswald Theodore Avery Oswald Avery was born in Halifax in 1877. Avery’s fundamental contributions to molecular biology and medicine were recognized by numerous honors and awards, including the Paul Ehrlich Gold Medal and the Copley Medal of the Royal Society of London. Astoundingly, in an acknowledged oversight, Avery never received a Nobel Prize. (The source of this picture - Wikipedia) Movie