STORY: ‘Tis the season

The significance of breaking bread together

The holiday season can be a time of joy, sharing, family and friends.  It's also the time of gingerbread men, eggnog and one heck of a turkey dinner. Talk to food culture expert Dawn Johnston, in the Faculty of Communication and Culture, about the rituals and traditions of food at Christmas.
Dawn Johnston, 403-220-3199, debjohns@ucalgary.ca
Or phone Jennifer Myers, communications manager for communication and culture, at 403-220-4117.

Please pass the portion control

Whether it’s Kwanzaa, or Christmas, celebrating with family and friends sometimes means heaping your plate with richly prepared food and this poses extra challenges for people living with diabetes. Physicians caution that people with diabetes should plan ahead to avoid overloading carbohydrates and fatty foods. “Practising portion control is a great strategy to help control caloric intake and carbohydrate intake, while enjoying some of your favourite foods during the holiday season,” says U of C endocrinologist Dr. Sue Pedersen.
Sue Pedersen, 403-617-4714, suepedersen@calgaryhealthregion.ca
Or phone Rhonda Watson, media relations coordinator, at 403-210-3835 or rlwatson@ucalgary.ca.

The Star of Bethlehem – A meteorological phenomena?

Psychics and astronomy professor Phil Langill can talk about the possibility of the Star of Bethlehem being a comet, supernova, or planetary alignment — or some other astronomical phenomena. Langill, director of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, suggests the star could have been a meteorological phenomena.
Phil Langill, 403-220-5402– work, 403-874-1877– cell, pplangil@ucalgary.ca

You can’t buy Christmas

While consumers reach into their pockets to buy a piece of Christmas cheer, Douglas Shantz, a religious studies professor, says we need to take a step back from the commercialization and think of the true meaning of Christmas.
Douglas Shantz, 403-220-3283, dshantz@ucalgary.ca

Teaching music to develop hope in the homeless

Jeremy Brown, professor and head of the music department and one of the directors of the Centre of Hope (Salvation Army) jam band, can talk about using music as a way of inspiring people, during the holiday season. On Monday nights Brown teaches clients from a Calgary homeless centre to play their instruments together - the band is working toward putting on a concert in January.
Jeremy Brown, 403-220-5379, jbrown@ucalgary.ca

Fa la la la la – the history of caroling

Professor Malcolm Edwards of the Music Department at the U of C has been leading the campus in Christmas caroling for many years. An expert in the rich history and tradition of church and choral music, and their composers, Edwards has also appeared for over 20 years in Knox/CBC’s presentation of Carolfest.
Malcolm Edwards, 403-220-6564, edwards@ucalgary.ca

STORY: World AIDS Day – December 1, 2007

Helping the most vulnerable

Catherine Worthington, in the Faculty Social Work, is both a CIHR new investigator and an AHFMR population health investigator, who has developed various national and local studies related to AIDS/HIV. She focuses on program evaluation and services development for vulnerable populations, including communities affected by HIV/AIDS, and populations such as street youth that are at risk for adverse health outcomes, including HIV infection.
Catherine Worthington, 403-220-8507, cworth@ucalgary.ca.
Or phone Lynne Dulaney-Macnicol, communications consultant for social work, at 403-220-2232.

Prevention strategies in Jamaica

In Jamaica, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among the 24-45 year old age group and the second leading cause of death in the 30-34 age group. Approximately 1.5 - 2 percent of pregnant women are estimated to be HIV positive. Working with a team of researchers in Jamaica, Faculty of Nursing associate professor Tam Donnelly is researching HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention strategies that will best care for those living with or affected by the disease.  She is exploring the factors influencing HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention and the social stigma that affects individuals' decisions to seek help.
Tam Donnelly, 403-220-8377, tdonnell@ucalgary.ca
Or phone Karen Cook, communications manger for nursing, at 403-220-4361.

HIV/AIDS and the gut

The gut is a very important part of the immune system which makes an ideal nesting ground for HIV to set up shop. The infection and destruction of the immune cells in the gut by HIV also plays an important role in the development of AIDS. The major hurdle in finding a vaccine and a cure for HIV/AIDS is that the virus changes rapidly. U of C molecular virologist Guido van Marle, in the Faculty of Medicine together with the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic (SAC) is studying how rapidly HIV changes and becomes drug resistant in the gut. His team hopes to catch up to these viruses in order to improve HIV treatments and understand how HIV destroys the immune system. He is also searching for insight into why some people with HIV don't develop AIDS.
Guido van Marle, 403-210-3923, vanmarle@ucalgary.ca
Or phone Rhonda Watson, media relations coordinator, at 403-210-3835 or rlwatson@ucalgary.ca. 

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Alberta minister of recreation backs a referees’ decision to ban a 14 year-old girl from playing soccer while wearing a hijab.

Irving Hexham
Department of Religious Studies
403- 241-1059

Karla Poewe
Department of Religious Studies
403- 241-105

Growth in labour productivity eased in all provinces in 2006, except for the four Atlantic provinces, according to a Statistics Canada report.

Frank Atkins
Department of Economics
220-5864  

Premier Ed Stelmach to release an overview of his government's
response to the royalty review Wednesday evening

Frank Atkins, associate professor, Department of Economics
atkins@ucalgary.ca
220-5864/617-3252

Michael Wright, associate professor, accounting, Haskayne School of Business
michael.wright@haskayne.ucalgary.ca
220-7838

Bob Schulz, academic director, petroleum land management
bob.schulz@haskayne.ucalgary.ca
220-6591

Jaana Woiceshyn, associate professor, strategy & global management
Can comment from the perspective of business ethics (e.g., property rights, integrity, free markets, etc.) and innovation and productivity
jaana.woiceshyn@haskayne.ucalgary.ca
220-7705