A "Royal" recognition for two Dalhousie researchers

The outstanding work of two Dalhousie researchers has been recognized by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).

The RSC is the country's National Academy of distinguished scholars, artists and scientists. It promotes learning and research in the arts, the humanities and the natural and social sciences

Julia Wright, a professor in the Department of English, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Election into the academies is the highest honour a scholar can achieve in the arts, humanities and sciences.

Dr. Wright will join 43 Dalhousie-affiliated researchers who have been elected as fellows through the years, most recently Richard Devlin, of the Schulich School of Law, and Jeffery Hutchings of the Department of Biology from 2015.

Marsha Campbell-Yeo, an associate professor in the School of Nursing, has been named to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Members of the College will address issues of particular concern to new scholars, artists and scientists, for the advancement of understanding and the benefit of society, taking advantage of the interdisciplinary approaches fostered by the establishment of the College.

Dr. Campbell-Yeo will join Dal faculty members John Archibald (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), Jennifer Bain (Fountain School of Performing Arts) and Rudulf Uher (Psychiatry) from the 2016 cohort, Christine Chambers (Medicine and Science); Chike Jeffers (Philosophy); and Krista Kesselring (History) from the 2015 cohort, and Roberta Barker (Fountain School of Performing Arts) and Randall Martin (Physics and Atmospheric Science/Chemistry), part of the college’s inaugural 2014 cohort.

The official announcement was made on Tuesday, September 12. Both Dr. Wright and Dr. Campbell will be inducted at a ceremony in Winnipeg, Manitoba this November.

Laying the foundation for the field of Irish Romanticism

An internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Wright focusses on British and Irish Romantic Literature, particularly in the context of European and transatlantic debates about nation, empire, and gender.

More than any other scholar, Dr. Wright has been instrumental in laying the foundation for the field of Irish Romanticism by making a valuable array of Irish literary materials that have not been in print since the nineteenth century accessible, and comprehensible through her scholarly footnotes and introductions — her editions are widely used in undergraduate and graduate courses as well as cited in scholarship.

Wright’s current research situates the Irish Romantic-era poet Thomas Moore in transatlantic context; her work in transatlantic studies includes co-editing a book series and co-founding the Social Sciences and Humanities Oceans Research and Education network of Dalhousie and Memorial University researchers.

“So many scholars I have long admired are in the Royal Society – it’s a great honour to join them, and a delight to see the important research in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences here at Dalhousie Recognized in this way,” says Dr. Wright.

Improving outcomes in vulnerable newborns

Dr. Campbell-Yeo is internationally recognized for her contributions towards improving outcomes in vulnerable newborns. Her program of research investigates maternal driven interventions to improve outcomes of medically at risk newborns specifically related to pain, stress and neurodevelopment. Her work represents a paradigm shift by fully integrating mothers and families in intensive care delivery.

Dr. Campbell-Yeo’s passion for improving neonatal outcomes arose from her over 25 years of caring for critically ill newborns and their families as a clinician, educator, and researcher. She continues to provide clinical care in her role as a neonatal nurse practitioner to critically ill infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at the IWK Health Centre and is one of the few practicing Nurse Clinician Scientists in Canada.

“I am thrilled and deeply honoured to become a member of the Royal Society College of New Scholars and join this diverse group of impressive leaders, says Dr. Campbell-Yeo. “Most importantly, this inclusion provides an opportunity to broaden the scope and reach of the research aimed at improving outcomes for vulnerable babies and their families.”

A full list of Fellows and Members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists is available on the Royal Society of Canada website.