York astronomy professor Kim Innanen, postdoctoral researcher Paul Wiegert and Seppo Mikkola of Turku University in Finland have discovered that an asteroid accompanying Earth in its orbit is the only natural companion to this planet, other than the Moon. The team's discovery will entice other scientists to investigate the region and could potentially result in a spacecraft being sent to the asteroid for further study.

Chemistry professor Diethard Böhme is the 1998 recipient of the prestigious John C. Polanyi Award for excellence in research in physical and theoretical chemistry or chemical physics. The award, sponsored by Xerox Research Centre of Canada and given out annually by the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC), is named in honour of the Canadian Nobel laureate chemist. Böhme, an ion chemist, is the seventh winner. The award is worth $3,000. The winner also gives a lecture on a topic of his or her choice at the annual CSC meeting.

York's Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of biology Robert Haynes received a degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, from the University of Western Ontario at their June convocation ceremonies.

York's Distinguished Research Professor of biology Ken Davey has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada, the tenth York professor to receive Canada's highest honour. Davey has been recognized on behalf of his work for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Royal Society of Canada's Academy of Science.

The Royal Society of Canada has awarded the Jason A. Hannah Medal to Georgina Feldberg for an important Canadian publication in the history of medicine. Feldberg is director of the York's Centre for Health Studies and co-director of the National Network on Environments and Women's Health, a federally funded Centre of Excellence. She is one of three York recipients of 1997 RSC medals. The others are psychology professors Norman S. Endler and David M. Regan. Endler received the Innis-Gérin Medal for distinguished and sustained contributions to the social sciences. Regan received the Sir John William Dawson Medal for "important and sustained contributions in at least two different domains."

Vivienne Monty, a senior librarian at the York University Library, is the recipient of the 1997 Outstanding Academic Librarian Award, presented annually by the Canadian Association of College and University Libraries (CACUL). The award honours an individual member of CACUL who has made an outstanding national or international contribution to academic librarianship and library development.

The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) has honoured humanities professor Marlene Kadar and history professor Gerald Ginsburg for their outstanding teaching performance. Out of eight 1996 OCUFA awards for excellence in teaching, York professors won two.

David Dewitt, director of York's Centre for International and Security Studies, received a $1.49 million grant for an international project to examine the relationship between complex processes of development, and how these both affect and are affected by issues of security. The project is funded for three years by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The 1997 recipients of the Parent's Association University-Wide Teaching Awards are: History professor Gerald Ginsburg, Social Science professor Dalton Kehoe, Sociology professor Katherine Bischoping, Fine Arts professor Kym Bird, Social Science professor Walter Perchal, and teaching assistant Trevor Holmes. The awards are given annually to professors at York for excellence in their profession.