Features Business & Policy Consumer Issues
‘Game-changing’ potato researcher recognized

In 1966, while with the plant agriculture department at the University of Guelph, Gary Johnston developed the popular Yukon Gold potato to grow in challenging climates. Now Johnston is among 50 researchers whose work is being recognized by the COU.

The council’s Research Matters campaign is celebrating innovations from Ontario universities over the last 100 years. Starting April 1, the public will be invited to vote on the top “game-changing” discoveries. Voting will continue all summer at fairs and public events as the game-changers go on the road with the Research Matters Curiosity Shop, which gives people the opportunity to ask questions of the tens of thousands of expert researchers from Ontario’s universities.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the world is a much better place because of Ontario’s game-changing research,” said Bonnie M. Patterson, president and CEO of COU. “Our university researchers have saved countless lives through discoveries in polio, diabetes and cancer treatments, and they have also revolutionized art, film and space travel. We want the public to feel a sense of pride in Ontario research, and we want them to tell us which discoveries are their favourites.”

The COU will announce the public’s top five favourites this fall.

For more information about the contest, visit www.yourontarioresearch.ca.