Award Announcement

The Helgason Travel Award for Graduate Students
in Plant Science

Dr. Sig Helgason joined the Department of Plant Science in 1947 as a plant breeder.  His outstanding career accomplishments include the development of corn inbreds and hybrids and the release of several barley varieties, including the six-row malting variety, Argyle.  Dr. Helgason served as Head of the Department of Plant Science from 1975-1978.  He formally retired from the Department in 1978 and was named Professor Emeritus in 1980.  He maintained an ongoing involvement in his research program, graduate student committees and departmental affairs until 1984.  He passed away in 1992 in Winnipeg, at the age of 79.

The Helgason Travel Award for Graduate Students in Plant Science is awarded to a deserving M.Sc. or Ph.D. student who is beyond the first year of his/her graduate program.  The award is funded by interest earned on an endowment account established from contributions to a memorial fund which was initiated as a tribute to Dr. Helgason's personal qualities and career accomplishments.  The current maximum value of the Helgason Award is $1,130.

The award is used to pay expenses to attend a scientific meeting in a plant science related area.  The recipient must present the results of his/her research at the meeting (poster or oral presentation).

Students submit applications to the Dr. Peter McVetty, Associate Head, Department of Plant Science, by January 15.  The recipient is named by February 1.  Funding must be used within the 12 month period following the date that the award recipient is announced.  Recipients graduating within the 12 month period following the date that the award recipient is announced, must use the funding within six months of the date of convocation.

Students may not hold both the Helgason Travel Award and the Plant Science Travel Award in the same calendar year.

Application forms are available from Martha Blouw (martha_blouw@umanitoba.ca) and Bev Godard (godardbd@ms.umanitoba.ca), 222 Agriculture Building.

Selection of the recipient is based on:
1.	academic performance;
2.	comments from letters of recommendation;
3.	quality of the abstract submitted and proposed research to be presented;
4.	potential value of the meeting to the student's development.

The award recipient will submit receipts for travel, registration, hotel and food expenses (based on current University of Manitoba per diem rates).  Expenses will be reimbursed up to $1,130.

APPLICATION DEADLINE – JANUARY 15, 2007