Announcement of four research stars 2011

MONTREAL, Oct. 6, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - This evening at the Palais de congrès Recognition Award Gala, the Rendez-vous du Savoir partners will proudly announce the winners in the second edition of the "Ça mérite d'être reconnu!" contest.

The "Ça mérite d'être reconnu!" contest was created to honour and promote the best researchers from academic institutions across Quebec in three distinct categories: social sciences and humanities; arts and literature; and natural science, engineering and health. This year, four leading researchers were selected from a pool of 43 candidates representing 13 different Quebec universities. The 11-person multidisciplinary selection committee, with leaders from economic, scientific, and political fields, is chaired by Dr. Pavel Hamet, O.Q., M.D., Ph. D, a professor at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Medicine.

The four researchers stand out for the excellence of their work, which contributes to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields; their work's respective applications have already, or are likely to have significant positive impacts on society. "It's exciting to see that there's a strong next generation of researchers in our institutions that are passionate and ready to take up the torch. After having the opportunity to examine the researchers' impressive projects, it is clear that our universities and research institutions are very fortunate in terms of talent, and we are proud to present them to the public" said Dr. Pavel Hamel, president of the jury. This initiative makes it possible to discover new researchers, and to highlight the vitality of research in Quebec, while raising public awareness of the impact of their research in daily life."

The four Research Stars in this second edition are:

Caroline Boudoux, Ph.D., junior engineer. Caroline Boudoux is an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Physics and at the Biomedical Engineering Institute at the École Polytechnique de Montréal, and she is a researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine's Research Centre. Her work in engineering physics is at the leading edge of microscopy and endoscopy, using new fibre optic components with less invasive and more precise instruments to allow the observation of internal organs in 3D through a simple needle. Her work has already attracted Univalor's interest in finding applications for this technology in orthopaedic and otolaryngologic fields. These technological advances will bring significant benefits to public health and to the quality of healthcare available.

Krista Byers-Heinlein, Ph.D. Krista Byers-Heinlein is an assistant professor at the Department of Psychology at Concordia University, and a member of the Center for Research on Language, Mind, and Brain. Her work aims to provide a better understanding of the language acquisition process in young children by using cutting edge experimental techniques such as non-invasive brain imaging technology using near-infrared spectroscopy. This research has revealed a form of bilingualism at birth in children that are exposed to two languages during prenatal development. These discoveries have caught the attention of her peers, and suggest important implications for socialization and integration in multicultural families; this is a subject that will surely remain newsworthy in Quebec in and the rest of the world.

Éric Deneault, MSc. Éric Deneault is a doctoral student in molecular biology at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) at the University of Montreal. His research on in vitro stem cell growth will greatly increase the amount of stem cells that can be harvested from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow. This will not only improve the effectiveness of bone marrow transplants, but also improve transplant recovery, and give new hope to leukemia patients. Finishing his PhD soon, he plans on continuing his career in research by taking on a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston's Harvard University.

Samuelle Ducrocq-Henry, Ph.D., communications. Samuelle Ducrocq-Henry is a professor in the Department of Design and New Media at the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), and is the head of the Montreal UQAT Centre for undergraduate 3D design. Her research focuses on new uses for video game technology, developing an application model called "LAN Pédagogique". This model reuses video games as a tool to promote learning and therapeutic intervention. It provides many practical applications for creating immersive, fun, affordable group intervention and education opportunities in schools and other domains, such as road safety. This research will certainly have a significant impact on one of Quebec's key economic sectors: Information technology.

About Rendez-vous du Savoir

The Rendez-vous du Savoir forum on higher learning is one of the numerous activities being undertaken by the province's leaders to promote the importance of knowledge in Quebec's economy. This second edition of the Rendez-vous du Savoir, scheduled for October 5 and 6 at Montreal's Palais des congrès, has a theme of How Universities Contribute to Business Development. Ms. Monique F. Leroux, Chairman and CEO of the Mouvement des caisses Desjardins, and Mr. Pavel Hamet, professor at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Medicine will be at the Rendez-vous du Savoir as the spokespeople for the second consecutive year.

Eight partners have joined together in creating this 2011 edition: the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal, the Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ), the Conférence régionale des élus de Montréal (CRÉ), Montréal International, the city of Montréal and two new partners: Tourisme Montréal and the Montréal Council on Foreign Relations (MCFR). The Rendez-vous du Savoir's partners are proud to have the participation of the Mouvement Desjardins as a presenting sponsor and of Bell as an association sponsor. To obtain more information on the Rendez-vous du Savoir's programming online, visit www.rendezvousdusavoir.com.

For further information:

For an interview with one or several of the Star Researchers, or for more information, please contact:

Andréan Gagné
Cohn & Wolfe | Montréal
Tél. : [phone]
[e-mail]

Anne Bilodeau
Cohn & Wolfe | Montréal
Tél. : [phone]
[e-mail]