Rotary Program June 18, 2009
Dr. Axel Meisen, ARC's chair of foresight, has been awarded Canada's highest honour of merit for lifetime achievement. On July 1st, Dr. Meisen was one of 75 Canadians named by the Governor General to the Order of Canada.
Dr. Meisen was recognized for his work in the field of education, specifically 'for his important contributions to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador through his leadership of the Memorial University of Newfoundland.' Dr. Meisen served as president of Memorial University from September 1999 until December 2007, during which time Memorial saw a significant increase in enrolment coupled with unprecedented funding and enhanced research. He started with the Alberta Research Council in January 2008 in the newly-created position of chair of foresight.
Recognized for his contributions to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador, Dr. Meisen plans to draw on his previous experiences for the benefit of ARC, Alberta and around the world. As chair of foresight, Dr. Meisen works to identify key areas of research for ARC and to help focus our activities where they will have the greatest benefit for Alberta.
Dr. Meisen recently headed ARC's inaugural Jasper Innovation Forum, held June 11-14, which gathered top innovators from around the world with the intent of identifying potential areas for research that will have significant and long-term impact on the province and the globe.
With the focus of the Forum on innovation in water, food and energy, those gathered were able to identify issues common to the three themes, including losses, waste and contamination; lack of comprehensive information; problems with transportation, distribution and storage; governance and policy; and the merits of regional and micro-systems. "With most of Alberta products being bulk commodities destined for distant markets, transportation and supply chain logistics are promising areas for R & D." Dr. Meisen is working with Forum participants to summarize and build on the outcomes of the Forum with the aim of determining specific areas where ARC could focus its research activity.
Just past the halfway point of his first year at ARC, Dr. Meisen is already making some traction and looks forward to building on the success of the recent innovation forum. "I look forward to contributing to [ARC's] future and the future of the province."
The insignias of membership into the Order of Canada will be awarded at an investiture ceremony in Rideau Hall, Ottawa later this year.