Geneticist earns Science and Technology gold

Gold medals are presented annually by the B.C. Science Council to recognize outstanding achievements by B.C. scientists, engineers, industrial innovators and science communicators.

Nominated by Nobel Laureate Michael Smith, Hall received the award in the category New Frontiers in Research.

Hall is a leader in medical genetics, especially in the field of congenital birth defects. Her discoveries have led to a better understanding of the genetic factors that affect children's growth, or the lack of it.

In one of her early studies of hormone behaviour, Hall identified a new cause of dwarfism. She later developed new ways to classify various causes of dwarfism and other congenital abnormalities.

More recently, she has campaigned for adequate amounts of folic acid in the diet prior to pregnancy. Found in fruit and green vegetables, folic acid reduces the incidence of neural tube defects as well as several other congenital abnormalities.

Previous recognition of her work has included the UBC Senior Killam Research Prize, the March of Dimes Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Genetic Sciences and the YMCA Women of Distinction Award in Science and Technology.

This spring, Hall, who has dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, was named one of America's top 1,000 doctors by American Health magazine.

Other gold medal winners are:

• Otto Forgacs, Science Council of B.C. Chairman's Award for Career Achievement. Forgacs was head of Research and Development at MacMillan Bloedel for 20 years until his retirement in 1994. He led the drive for technological innovations including engineered wood products such as Parallam and the SpaceKraft packaging system. As well, Forgacs has worked closely with the UBC faculties of Forestry and Applied Science. He received an honorary degree from the university in 1994.

• Tim Collings, SFU, Young Innovator Award. Collings is the inventor of the V-chip, a device that enables television viewers to set their own threshold levels for language, sex and violence.

• Jeff Dahn, SFU, now with Dalhousie University, Solutions Through Research Award. His early work with Moli Energy led to the company becoming the leading North American manufacturer of small lightweight rechargeable lithium-ion cells.

• Leonard Grenier and Marcel Sutanto, ALI Technologies, Industrial Innovation Award. They have developed a highly successful system for managing and transmitting medical images.

• Patti Leigh, Science World, Eve Savory Award for Science Communication. Leigh is credited with the phenomenal growth and success of science fairs in B.C.

The gold medals will be presented at an awards dinner in Vancouver Oct. 21.