Acfas honors pair of McGill researchers
Robin Yates and Michael Kramer garner distinguished awards
Two McGill researchers were recognized with prestigious Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas) awards on Oct. 16 at the Centre des sciences de Montreal. Professor Robin Yates, Department of East Asian Studies and History, received the Prix André-Laurendeau for his exceptional contribution to the field of humanities and Dr. Michael Kramer, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Biostatics, received the Léo-Pariseau award in acknowledgement of his outstanding work in biological and health sciences.
Prof. Yates is an internationally recognized expert on China. His research interests include early and traditional Chinese history, historical theory, archaeology of culture, traditional popular culture, Chinese poetry, Chinese science and technology. In addition to numerous articles, Professor Yates published the book Five Lost Classics: Tao, Huang-Lao and Yin-Yang in Han China in 1997. The prize was created in 1986 in honour of 'André Laurendeau, well-known editorialist and humanist, and is awarded to a person working in the domain of humanities.
For 30 years, Dr Michael Kramer has studied health care practices for pregnant women and their newborns. He is an international expert on the effects of infant breastfeeding and preterm birth. The author and co-author of 20 books and 250 articles, Dr. Kramer's systematic review of the evidence on the optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding led directly to new infant feeding recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly. His current areas of research interest include the causes and prevention of preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction, the determinants of fetal and infant mortality, and the health effects of breastfeeding. Dr. Kramer is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
For more than 80 years, Acfas has pursued a noble mission: to promote scientific activity, to stimulate research and to disseminate knowledge. The Quebec-based organization has been an active player in the scientific community through a number of activities, including its annual congress, a bimonthly magazine and the awarding of prizes for outstanding contributions to research.