2006 Governor General's Gold Medals Awarded to Sophie Baker and Jeffrey Wilson
(Awarded May 2006) The Governor General's Gold Medals for 2005-06 were awarded at the May 2006 convocation to two exceptional graduate students. The Governor General's Gold Medal is awarded to "the most outstanding Master's candidate in a thesis or non-thesis program." Dalhousie University, by virtue of its large graduate enrolment, is allowed to award two medals each year, one to a student in the natural sciences and engineering, and one to a student in the humanities and social sciences. The winners of this year's medals were nominated by their departments, and were selected out of a class of 957 graduating master's students.
Governor General's Gold Medal for Humanities and Social Sciences
The Governor General's Medal in the Humanities and Social Sciences for 2006 is awarded to Jeffrey S. Wilson. Jeffrey Wilson graduated with the degree Master of Arts in International Development Studies in the October 2005 convocation. The title of his Master's thesis is: "A Comparison of Sustainable Development Indicator Matrices and the Need for Ecological Thresholds: Which Way Are We Going?"
An expert in "footprint analysis", Jeffrey Wilson achieved an outstanding record in an eclectic program of graduate classes in international development studies, environmental studies, and political science. His thesis provides an important analysis of the challenges faced by the global community when relying on existing metrics to guide decision-making for a sustainable future. His work has resulted in two publications and he has co-authored a number of important technical reports on ecological footprint studies in different areas.
Before joining the International Development Studies program Jeffrey Wilson had obtained an Honours Bachelors degree from the University of Waterloo. At Dalhousie, he also distinguished himself in student affairs, serving as President of the Dalhousie Association of Graduate Students.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies is proud to recognize the achievements of Jeffrey S. Wilson of the Department of International Development Studies by awarding him the Governor General's Gold Medal in the Humanities and Social Sciences for 2006.
Governor General's Gold Medal for Natural Sciences and Engineering
The Governor General's Gold Medal in the Natural Sciences and Engineering for 2006 is awarded to Sophie Ellen Baker. Sophie Baker graduated with the degree Master of Science in Earth Sciences in the October 2005 convocation. The title of her Master's thesis was: "The Quaternary History of the Rio Diamante, Mendoza Province, Argentina". Before joining the Department of Earth Sciences at Dalhousie, she had completed a BA (First Class Honours) degree in Geology at Trinity College of the University of Dublin.
In her Master's thesis, Sophie Baker presents an important and lasting contribution to the understanding of the rapid rising of the Andes foothills. She has provided meticulous documentation of the tectonic deformation of stream sediment, and her geochemical research on volcanic ash has provided a powerful marker allowing for the correlation of the geological records of stream deposits in different valleys. Recipient of the Fahnestock Memorial Research Award of the Geological Society of America, two important papers based on her Master's thesis research are being published in major international journals.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies is proud to recognize the achievements of Sophie Ellen Baker of the Department of Earth Sciences with the award of the Governor General's Gold Medal in the Natural Sciences and Engineering for 2006.
