Dr. Arlene Ponting Appointed to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 20, 2007) - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), today appointed Dr. Arlene Ponting to the Council.

"Dr. Ponting's career in science, which has focused on scientific teaching and education, has provided her with a beneficial insight into NSERC's role," said Minister Prentice. "Through the work of the Council, NSERC continues to promote and advance natural sciences and engineering through investments in university students and professors. I welcome Dr. Ponting to the Council and know her contributions will be a benefit to all."

Dr. Ponting is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Science Alberta Foundation. She previously served as a consultant in the Educational Resources Department of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and then as Director of Continuing Pharmacy Education with the University of Alberta's Faculty of Pharmacy.

Dr. Ponting holds a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) and a Ph.D. (Educational Administration) from the University of Alberta. She is the recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal, which recognizes outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta, and the Canadian Pharmaceutical Association Award of Achievement.

NSERC is a federal agency whose role is to make investments in people, discoveries and innovations for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency invests in people by supporting some 23 000 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. It promotes discovery by funding more than 11 000 university professors every year, and it helps make innovation happen by encouraging about 1300 Canadian companies to invest in university research and training. Over the past 10 years, NSERC has invested $6 billion in basic research, university-industry projects, and the training of Canada's next generation of scientists and
engineers.