Neil Swainson, a founding faculty member and former chair of UVic’s department of political science, has been awarded a life membership in the B.C. Political Studies Association for his contributions to Canadian political science and public administration. UVic political scientist Norman Ruff, president of the association, notes that Swainson’s book, Conflict Over the Columbia, remains one of the most important policy studies on the making of the Columbia River Treaty.

Patti Edgar, former editor of the Martlet and recent graduate of UVic’s writing program, has won the Herb Lampert Award from the Canadian Science Writers Association. The $750 first-place prize is handed out yearly to the student who best demonstrates an outstanding contribution to journalism. Edgar’s story on fish farming in B.C., entitled “The Ones That Got Away,” was published May 20, 1999 in the Martlet. “It was the first time I ever entered a writing contest,” said Edgar in a telephone interview from Edmonton, where she’s currently working for the Edmonton Journal. “They even flew me Toronto to accept the award. It was really cool.”

Lynne Beecroft, head coach of the Vikes women’s field hockey team, is spending the summer as assistant coach to Canada’s national team. She’s currently in Winnipeg at the team’s training camp and a couple of key test matches against India and the U.S. Then she returns to UVic for a one-week field hockey summer camp before rejoining the national team for a trip to Europe to play matches against the national teams of Germany and Holland. “It’s definitely an honor to be asked to be an assistant national coach,” says Beecroft. “It took me 16 years to realize my dream as an athlete — to attend the Olympics — and it’s taken me 16 years to realize my dream as a coach — to help coach the national team.” The Vikes women’s field hockey team has won eight CIAU national titles under Beecroft’s leadership since 1984.

Dr. John Osborne (history in art) has recently returned from Rome where he organized and chaired an international conference commemorating the 100th anniversary of the excavation of S. Maria Antiqua, a medieval church situated within the remains of Rome’s ancient Forum. The church is renowned for its murals. “This site is one of the most significant for visual arts in early medieval Europe,” explains Osborne. “It contains a series of mural decorations dating from the sixth through the 11th centuries, many of them containing images of the reigning popes.” Osborne will edit and publish the papers presented at the conference in a forthcoming book.”

In recognition of the research and advice they have provided the Municipality of Saanich over the years, the staff and students of UVic’s school of environmental studies were recognized with a Saanich Environmental Awards honourable mention on June 12. The award was presented under the category of “school environmental achievement.”

The following appointments took effect July 1: Dr. Michael Prince (public administration), associate dean of human and social development (five years); Dr. John Celona (music), associate dean of fine arts (two years); John Phillips, chair of mathematics and statistics (three years); Dr. Ben Koop, chair of biology (five years); Dr. James Young, chair of philosophy (three years); Dr. Christine St. Peter, chair of women’s studies (one year renewal); and Dr. Ross Chapman, director of the centre for earth and ocean research (five years).

Recent fine arts grad Ashley Paterson has been awarded the Golden Key Art International Scholarship, worth $1,000 US, in the photography category. The Golden Key National Honor Society is an international, non-profit academic honors organization that provides academic recognition, career development contacts and scholarships to high-achieving students. The UVic chapter, established three months ago, is one of 11 in Canada and 285 around the world.