Alumni News - Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto

In addition Andrew has completed the first year of a twoyear
term as President of the Academy of Science of the
Royal Society of Canada. This is a largely administrative
position, overseeing the selection and induction of new
Fellows. The Society is also attempting to enlarge its role
in Canada’s public life, and to this end has been engaged in
fundraising activities and developing closer relations with
Canada’s universities. He also found time to give two short
courses to the petroleum geology community in Calgary.
Andrew and Charlene Miall completed their online survey,
and interviews of earth scientists across the country (71
interviews, from Victoria to St. John’s) and have written up
a summary of the results for Geoscience Canada. This may
be accessed at http://www.gac.ca/publications/geoscience/
data.php.
Report on the Explorers Fund
and Donor Initiatives
The Explorer’s Fund has already begun to pay dividends to
the Department and its students. Katrina van Drongelen is
the first recipient of a graduate scholarship from the Fund.
She received support from the Jeff Fawcett-John Gittins
Fund for her M.Sc. research. Katrina is a first year graduate
student supervised by Dr. Kim Tait, Curator of Mineralogy
at the ROM, cross appointed to the Faculty. In addition,
the Explorer’s Fund was able to provide an undergraduate
scholarship to fourth year student Nicole DeBond
In 2008 the Steering Committee for fundraising worked
on expanding the initiative into the business community,
particularly in Toronto. A luncheon hosted by Eric Sprott
brought together members of the mining investment community
as well as several alumni to discuss the need to fund
teaching and ongoing research in the Earth Sciences.
Geology Faculty Members present included Professor Jeff
Fawcett, Chair Sandy Cruden and Professor Ed Spooner.
The take home message was that the Earth Sciences required
support beyond the University domain particularly
given the increased need for geoscientists in the exploration,
mining and environmental sectors.
Since that time the steering committee has continued to
work with institutions as well as alumni managing junior
and senior mining companies to publicize the Explorers
Fund and the channels that are available for donating to the
Department of Geology at the University of Toronto.
A principal focus of the Steering Committee in 2008 was
to develop and refine a five year stewardship progam to
raise significant funds for the Department of Geology. The
program was developed by Faculty members, members of
Katrina van Drongelen
the steering committee and Monica Lin, a representative
for Advancement for the Faculty of Arts and Science. The
pyramid of building blocks for the fund raising relies on a
base of Endowed Chairs and Professorships which would
attract students and further funding. This higher level
investment opportunity would be coupled with the more
grassroots program of endowment and gifting through the
Explorers Fund established in 2007.
A copy of this program and its rationale as well as a prospectus
style presentation will be mailed to all Alumni.
While the dynamics of the stock market have changed dramatically
over 2008, the steering committee is of the belief
that there is substantial opportunity to have potential donors
pledge shares or gifts based on future improvements in the
value of such holdings.
The program in 2009 will start with a meeting of Alumni at
the Cordilleran round-Up in Vancouver in January, where
the recently formulated funding document will be introduced.
Laurie Curtis, January 1st, 2009.
Steering Committee Chair.
5