Scholarship Winners 2001-2002

The scholarship winners for 2001-2002 were announced at the CTRF Annual Conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia, May 6-9, 2001.

The winners have been matched to their corporate sponsors for the "named" scholarship.

Recipients of the 2001 - 2002 Scholarship are:

Marc Fournier, Masters Systems Technology, L'ecole de technologie superieure Montreal
Christopher Fullerton, Ph.D., Dept. of Geography, University of Saskatchewan
Melanie Robertson, Ph.D., Dept. of Geography, University of Montreal
Jean-Paul Roy, Ph.D. Management, Schulich School of Business, York University (unable to accept)
Christine Wickens, MA, Dept. of Psychology, York University
 

CN SCHOLARSHIP ($4000)

Melanie Robertson
Current Program:  Ph.D. Dept. of Geography, University of Montreal
Previous Degree:   Maitrise en geographie, Liste d'honneur du doyen de la faculte des etudes superieures
Area of Research:  Politiques des transports. 

Je m'interesse a la Chine depuis le debut de mes etudes universitaires en 1994. De fa?on davantage marquee, j'ai entrepris un programme de formation de trois mois pour l'apprentissage du mandarin durant l'ete 1997. J'ai egalement realise plusieurs enquetes de terrain dans le secteur des transports en Chine. J'ai en outre, complete un programme de maitrise en geographie portant entre autre, sur l'offre et la demande des cereales et les investissements etrangers dans les differents modes de transport en Chine. Cette experience m'a permis d'offrir des conferences (WCTR 2001, CETASE 2000, ACFAS 1998) et de publier un rapport technique sur les investissements trangers dans le domaine des transports en Chine.

Depuis janvier 2001, je suis inscrite  temps plein au programme de doctorat en geographie  l'Universite de Montreal. Ma these porte sur le rele, la fonction et l'impact des investissements canadiens dans le domaine des transports. Je suis deje boursiere du Centre de recherche sur les transports et du departement de geographie. Mes travaux de troisieme cycle examinent les liens entre les politiques canadiennes en matiere d'aide internationale publique et les investissements canadiens prives dans le domaine des transport, d'une part, et leurs impacts sur le developpement economique, d'autre part. Ma recherche a pour but de mettre en evidence cette interdependance et s'insere dans le contexte des recents changements des politiques de l'ACDI.

BOMBARDIER SCHOLARSHIP ($4000)

Marc Fournier
Current Program:  Masters Systems Technology, L'?cole de technologie superieure ? Montreal
Previous Degrees:  B.Sc. Electrical Engineering, L'?cole de technologie superieure ? Montreal
Area of Research:  The research project Marc is studying is in the field of computer vision. He is working on the development of a hand-held 3D scanner to inspect roads and structures. After this program Marc plans to continue his studies obtaining a Ph.D. degree in engineering.

Career Objectives

Marc's short-term goal is to complete his studies to study more thoroughly different aspects of computer vision systems. Then, he would like to work in the applied research field of computer vision to develop new applications mainly to extend the possibilities in transportation inspections. Marc's long-term career plans are to eventually co-ordinate and manage a team and a laboratory to promote the research in computer vision applied to the field of transportation.  A last ambition would be to teach one day all of the knowledge learned during his working years to communicate new technologies in computer vision.

 TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY SCHOLARSHIP ($4000)

Christine Wickens
Current Program:  MA, Dept. of Psychology, York University
Previous Degrees:  B.Sc. University of Toronto, June 2000
Area of Research:  Christine is currently working towards a Master of Arts in social and personality psychology.  Her thesis will focus on the experience of state driver stress as a function of occupational stress, trait driver stress, and congestion level.  It is hoped that this research will develop a greater understanding of the situation and person related variables that contribute to the experience of driver stress.  Upon completion of her Master's research, Christine plans to continue with her academic work, earning a doctoral degree and a position in a research setting.

Christime has been the recipient of many past honours including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, the University of Toronto Book Award, and the Dr. Vivial Paskal memorial Prize and the Forrin Prize from the University of Toronto Psychology Department.

Currently, Christine is working with Professor David Wiesenthal of York University and Inspector Kathy Rippey of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to develop a content analysis coding system that will be used to analyze telephone reports of improper driving behaviour received by the OPP call centre.  This analysis will allow for the identification of the most objectionable driving offences as perceived by the driving public.  This identification will help to guide policy decisions for several bodies, including the Ontario legislature, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, and the Ontario Provincial Police.  Results will identify priority issues for the Ontario legislator's future law-making actions, will provide the Ontario Ministry of Transportation with recommendations for changes to licensing and driver education programmes, and will  help the Ontario Provincial Police focus publicity and guide enforcement campaigns to deal with the objectionable driver behaviours.  In June 2001, Christine presented preliminary results from this research at the twelfth biennial Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference sponsored by the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals.

CTRF PRESIDENT'S SCHOLARSHIP ($4,000)

Christopher Fullerton
Current Program:  Ph.D., Dept. of Geography, University of Saskatchewan
Previous Degrees:   Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Queen's University; Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Geography, Nipissing University
Area of Research:  The primary focus of research is the topic of sustainable transportation and its implications for urban commuting.  As an increasing number of Canadian municipalities adopt sustainable transportation policies in order to reduce automobile dependency, there is a need to develop practical methods for evaluating the quality of walking, cycling and public transit facitilies and services.   Christopher's research terefore involves an attempt to develop a set of employment accessibility indicators that can be used to assess how easily commuters can reach their places of employment by foot, by bicycle, or by public transit.  Mr. Fullerton will also be teaching as a Lecturer in the Department of Geography at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.