Backgrounder
January 21, 2010
Projects Funded In Sudbury
Through the Ontario Research Fund–Research Infrastructure program, Ontario is investing $9,369,330 at Laurentian University and the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNOLAB) to support four research projects and 120 researchers. This investment is part of a broader $268-million provincewide investment that is supporting 214 projects and more than 3,300 researchers in 14 cities, while helping create and preserve more than 1,300 construction jobs over the next four years.
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Particle Astrophysics Experiments at SNOLAB – SNO+ and DEAP/CLEAN
Searching for answers to the structure and evolution of the universe
Lead Researcher: Boulay, Mark and Chen, Mark
Provincial Funding: $9,051,791
Researchers Affected: 30
Most of the energy in the universe consists of particles that are either unknown or not understood – including something called dark matter, which is thought to make up about a quarter of the universe. Identifying dark matter and its role in the structure and evolution of the universe is the focus of research being conducted by Drs. Mark Boulay and Mark Chen at their Queen’s University research labs and at the SNOLAB underground laboratory. Together, Drs. Boulay and Chen and their teams are uniquely positioned to make breakthrough discoveries, helping maintain Ontario’s leadership in experimental particle astrophysics.
The Effect of Soil Erosion and Sediment Redistribution on Northern Ontario’s Boreal Shield Landscape
Providing practical information on land surface change
Lead Researcher: Dirszowsky, Randy W.
Provincial Funding: $59,709
Researchers Affected: 15
Practical information on land surface change is vital for land use, conservation and restoration practices. Dr. Randy Dirszowsky will assess soil erosion and sediment redistribution and its effect on Northern Ontario’s Boreal Shield landscape. His research will support programs such as the Sudbury Soil Study, the internationally renowned re-greening work of the Vegetation Enhancement Technical Advisory Committee (VETAC) and other local initiatives of organizations like Science North and the Nickel District Conservation Authority. This will contribute directly to the community’s environmental quality, health and social well-being.
Increasing Understanding of How the Brain Processes Information to Address Various Disorders and Skills Development and Decline
Improving the health of rural populations
Lead Researcher: Roy-Charland, Annie
Provincial Funding: $170,772
Researchers Affected: 50
In a facility unique in Northern Ontario, Dr. Annie Roy-Charland will measure behaviour and physiology (e.g., eye movements and brain activity) to determine how disorders like alcohol addiction affect skills development and language. The research will help improve the health of rural populations in Northern Ontario and ultimately contribute social protocols and health interventions across Canada, especially related to alcohol addiction, learning programs and teaching methods.
The Use of Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy in the Development of Sensors that Incorporate Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies
Developing better sensors for medical and environmental applications
Lead Researcher: Shepherd, Jeffrey L.
Provincial Funding: $87,058
Researchers Affected: 25
World demand for chemical/biochemical sensors is growing fast because of their applications in industry, environmental monitoring, chemical analysis and medicine. The challenge is to produce cost-effective sensors, with increased levels of sensitivity and stability. At Laurentian University, Dr. Jeffrey Shepherd is leading a team of scientists using advanced microscopy and nanotechnology to develop better sensors for medical and environmental applications.
The Ontario Innovation Agenda
Research in Sudbury is an example of Ontario leading the world in the quest for knowledge and discovery. Support for this kind of work is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the province’s $3.2-billion strategy to make innovation a driving force of the province’s economy. By targeting investments toward areas where Ontario already is, or is poised to become a global leader, and by building on our greatest strength – the talent and ingenuity of our people – Ontario is harnessing innovation to ensure ours is one of the winning economies of the 21st century.
Support from the Ontario Research Fund–Research Infrastructure program
Part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) is key to the province’s plan to move world-class research from the lab to the global marketplace. The role of the fund is to help ensure that Ontario researchers have the tools they need to lead the world, or lead international collaborations, in their respective fields.
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