Backgrounder
October 17, 2008
BUILDING ONTARIO’S INNOVATION ECONOMY
Basic and Applied Research
Laurentian University
Dr. James Watterson, Dr. Nelson Belzile
Developing ways to improve detection of trace chemicals in decomposed remains
Provincial Funding: $66,733
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, or GC/MS, is a highly sensitive method of identifying different substances in a test sample. Applications of GC/MS include drug detection, fire and explosives detection and identification of unknown samples. Drs. James Watterson and Nelson Belzile at Laurentian University are using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer to conduct research in environmental chemistry and forensic toxicology cases where severely decomposed remains or complex environmental samples make it impossible to determine trace chemicals by conventional analysis. Their work will lead to the adoption of skeletal tissues analysis for routine use in forensic labs.
Dr. Pedro Jugo
Developing new ways to predict the location of mineral deposits
Provincial funding: $49,295
What conditions favour the formation of ore deposits? This question interests researchers at the new Laboratory for Experimental Petrology and Ore Deposits Research at Laurentian University. Led by Dr. Pedro Jugo, the researchers are trying to answer the question by simulating magmatic processes at high pressure and temperature to test various hypotheses currently used in modeling and exploration of ore deposits. The goal is to develop better mineralization models that will help predict where mineral deposits are located – which will eventually help the mining industry find new ore deposits more quickly and cost-effectively.
See also:
- News Release: Ontario Turning Ideas Into Stronger Economy
- Backgrounder: Supporting Basic and Applied Research
- Backgrounder: Basic and Applied Research Projects
- Recipients
