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Major advancements in Indigenous research announced at Laurentian

Major advancements in Indigenous research announced at Laurentian

Three announcements mark milestone day for Indigenous Research

Indigenous research at Laurentian University received a major boost today as MP Marc Serré announced federal government funding to support a new Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health. In addition, Laurentian announced its new Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute, and a new Advancing Indigenous Research Fund to accelerate Indigenous specific research.

“Laurentian University has been committed to enhancing Indigenous research capacity and increasing indigenous research activities and we are thrilled to be making strides in this strategic direction,” said Dr. Rui Wang, Vice President of Research.  “All three events announced today will significantly impact on the capacity and quality of Indigenous research at Laurentian and we look forward to continuing this momentum.”

Dr. Jennifer Walker has been appointed Laurentian University’s first Canada Research Chair specializing in Indigenous Health. Her collaborative research with https://eduzaurus.com/write-my-research-paper, FirstNation and Metis communities and organizations will use population level data on health conditions and services across the life span, with a focus on chronic illness and older populations. This research will help improve the use of Indigenous-specific health data for health services and policy planning.

“I am looking forward to supporting Indigenous partners to effectively use health data and the impact our extensive research will have. Indigenous people see wellness holistically and as a reflection of overall health,” said Dr. Walker. “By making sure we view existing data through an Indigenous lens, we hope it will be used as ‘medicine to heal’ and be leveraged for the benefit of overall wellbeing of Indigenous people and communities. This research will could potentially have tremendous impact on the health of future generations of Indigenous peoples as well as communities throughout northern Ontario.”

To initiate university-wide collaborative indigenous research, Laurentian has established the Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI). MIRI’s primary focus will be on pursuing and promoting social and cultural Indigenous research through collaboration and working with community partners. 

“The word “maamwizing” means ‘coming together’ or ‘collaborating together’ in Anishinaabe,” said Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek, Associate Vice-President, Academic & Indigenous Programs. “Following a successful inaugural Maamwizing conference last month, the Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute will continue to raise the profile of Indigenous research and help support the development of new expertise for our communities.”

As part of Laurentian’s ongoing commitment to fostering research, an Advancing Indigenous Research Fund (AIR Fund) has been created, $100,000 annually, to specifically support Indigenous research initiatives at Laurentian University. Through strategic investments, the AIR Fund will help foster meaningful and longstanding relations and explore solutions to the unique challenges faced by Indigenous peoples.
 

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and nineteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years.  

New Collaborative Research & Development Centre to be Named in Honour of Norinne Perdue

New Collaborative Research & Development Centre to be Named in Honour of Norinne Perdue

An investment of $1 million from the Perdue family towards its new research and development centre



Laurentian University announced an investment of $1 million from the Perdue family towards its new research and development centre. In appreciation of this gift, the centre will be named the Norinne E. Perdue Collaborative Research and Development Centre.

As part of the Cliff Fielding Research, Innovation and Engineering building, the Cliff Fielding Research, Innovation and Engineering Collaborative Research and Development Centre will enable researchers across the University’s seven Faculties to collaborate, share equipment and expertise. The space was designed in response to consultation with local industry, researchers and faculty, in order to maximize collaborations and inter-disciplinary opportunities.

Norinne was the granddaughter of Cliff Fielding. The Norinne E. Perdue Collaborative Research Centre will be located in the new building recently named after her grandfather. 

“The Perdue family have a long history of supporting Laurentian University,” said Jennifer Witty, Chair of the Laurentian University Board of Governors.  “Our students have benefited greatly from their generosity and through this investment our region will continue to prosper with a much needed Collaborative Research and Development Centre.”

The Perdue family’s investment was an important part of the University’s proposal for strategic investment funding which was announced by the Canadian and Ontario governments on September 23, 2016. The project totals $60.7 million and will be completed in 2018.

“Norinne believed strongly in the importance of education and working hard to reach goals,” said husband Gerry Perdue. “When we share and work together– everyone benefits. These are values Norinne and I taught our children from a young age. This centre will honour Norinne’s memory by enhancing educational opportunities for students while encouraging the collaboration that will lead to exciting new innovations in the north.”

Norinne Perdue was born in Sudbury to Jim and Shirley Fielding in 1960.  She attended Lockerby Secondary School until the 12th grade, and then graduated from Sudbury Secondary School (Ontario Scholar).  She pursued her studies at the University of Toronto (BA) and then at Laurentian University to prepare for her graduate degree work at Columbia University, New York (MA).

Mrs. Perdue had a lifelong interest in personal academic achievement, in the educational accomplishments of her children and in supporting others to meet their educational goals and interests. In her early life, Norinne excelled in dressage, eventually winning the Canadian Dressage Championships twice at the Junior level whilst studying in Toronto.
 

About Laurentian University


Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and eighteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years.
 

Dr. Linda Ambrose to Lead Development of Laurentian’s Next Strategic Plan

Dr. Linda Ambrose to Lead Development of Laurentian’s Next Strategic Plan

Ambrose to assume role of Special Advisor to the President

Laurentian University is proud to announce that Dr. Linda Ambrose will assume the role of Special Advisor to the President beginning January 1, 2017 until March 31, 2018. 
In this role, Dr. Ambrose will support the work of a representative steering committee which is expected to be appointed by February 2017 to develop the University’s next strategic plan. Her guidance will ensure the scope, principles and process approved by the Board of Governors and endorsed by Senate are implemented.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Ambrose lead this very important initiative for Laurentian,” said Dominic Giroux.  “She is well known and highly respected within our university community and brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding about Laurentian University. Some institutions use external consultants to lead their strategic planning exercises but it was important to us to leverage internal talent within the academy, as we did in 2011,  to lead this collegial process,” added Giroux.
 

Dr. Linda Ambrose

A Full Professor in the Department of History, Dr. Ambrose is a former recipient of the Laurentian University Teaching Excellence Award as well as the Laurentian University Status of Women Achievement Award. She is very committed to la Francophonie and engaged in promoting Indigenous perspectives, has pan-university experience from her active work at Senate and at the annual Ontario Universities’ Fair (to name just two examples), has served in administration as Acting Dean of the Faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities, and is active on social media.

Dr. Ambrose is very familiar with the University having been at Laurentian for 22 years and being the co-author of Laurentian University: A History (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2010). She has received awards for her scholarly publications from the Ontario Historical Society. Her current research interests include rural women’s history and the gender history of Canadian Pentecostalism. Her recent books include A Great Rural Sisterhood: Madge Robertson Watt and the Associated Country Women of the World (University of Toronto Press, 2015) and a co-edited collection, Women in Agriculture: Professionalizing Rural Life in North America and Europe, 1880-1965 (University of Iowa Press, in press).

“Leading the strategic planning process for Laurentian will certainly be an exciting challenge,” said Dr. Ambrose. “I look forward to working with students, colleagues, governors, alumni and community partners who will help shape and inform our new strategic plan.”

Laurentian is in the last year of its 2012-2017 Strategic Plan which was endorsed in a Globe and Mail editorial in October 2012 as “an excellent strategy”. Bold, ambitious, driven and concise, the 2012-2017 Strategic Plan was developed through extensive consultation featuring over 900 inputs.

Laurentian University Congratulates Professor Gregory Scofield

Laurentian University Congratulates Professor Gregory Scofield

Recipient of the 2016 Latner Writers’ Trust Poetry Prize at the Writers' Trust Awards

Laurentian University congratulates professor Gregory Scofield for receiving the 2016 Latner Writers’ Trust Poetry Prize at the Writers' Trust Awards in Toronto.

Selected by an independent judging panel, the Latner Writer’s Trust Poetry Prize recognizes the remarkable body of work of a mid-career poet with anticipation of future contributions to Canadian poetry.

“For seven collections of poetry, Gregory Scofield has impressed us with his memorable lyrics and keen eye for the finer details. His forms embrace the musical, the documentary, and the experimental in a vision of risk and generosity. From raw, urban truths to the solace of Cree cadence, from the heart beat of the drum to the wax poetics of a young Louis Riel, Scofield’s range of subject, work, and style dazzles.” – Latner Writers' Trust Poetry Prize Jury.

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and nineteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years.  

Laurentian University Congratulates Lucie Moncion on Appointment as Senator

Laurentian University Congratulates Lucie Moncion on Appointment as Senator

Laurentian Alumna to serve as independent senator representing Ontario

Laurentian University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Dominic Giroux added his congratulations today to Lucie Moncion on her appointment as independent senator representing Ontario.

“We are proud to see Laurentian alumna Lucie Moncion appointed to Senate for her impressive career achievements,” said Dominic Giroux.  “Her extensive background and expertise make her a wonderful selection to represent Ontario and we wish her continued success.”

Lucie Moncion holds a Bachelor in Business Administration with specialization in cooperative administration from Laurentian University as well as a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Moncton University. She has obtained the Certified Company Administrator designation from Université Laval and the Chartered Director designation from McMaster University.

Lucie Moncion has held numerous positions in Ontario's Caisse Populaire network. She is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance des caisses populaires de l'Ontario and has held this position since May 2001, when she became the first woman to hold such a position in a credit union federation in Canada. L’Alliance is a network of 12 credit unions that serves 23 Francophone municipalities in northeastern Ontario and plays a key role in the economic development of Francophone communities. Ms. Moncion has brought important stability to the operations of L'Alliance; asset growth has almost tripled—to $1.4 billion—since she took over as CEO. Ms. Moncion became President and Chair of the Board of Cooperatives and Mutuals Canada in 2016 and also currently serves as President of the Co-operative Board of Ontario. Active within government bodies and in her community, Ms. Moncion has served on various boards of directors, including as Vice-President on the Board of Directors at Nipissing University, Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Direction Ontario, and member of the Board of Directors at Collège Boréal.

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and nineteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years.  

Laurentian University Recognizes Two Prominent Sudburians

Laurentian University Recognizes Two Prominent Sudburians

Rick Bartolucci, Antoni Cimolino to receive honorary doctorates at fall convocation ceremonies

Long-standing educator and politician Rick Bartolucci and Stratford Festival artistic director Antoni Cimolino will receive an honorary doctorate at Laurentian University’s fall convocation ceremonies on October 29, 2016.

“Whether on the political stage or the theatre stage this fall’s honorary doctorates have demonstrated that Arts graduates can go far,” said Chancellor Steve Paikin. “Arts education provides foundational knowledge and transferrable skills that can open a wide array of career paths if you are willing to think outside the box and be open to new unexpected opportunities.”
 

Antoni Cimolino 
Stratford Festival artistic director Antoni Cimolino.

Antoni Cimolino will have a doctorate of letters conferred upon him at the 10:00 a.m. ceremony. 

Mr. Cimolino is the artistic director for the Stratford Festival and director of the 2016 critically-acclaimed productions of Macbeth and The Hypochondriac.

Born and raised in Sudbury, Mr. Cimolino credits his first love for the theatre to his teachers at St. Charles College and Marymount College.

A respected artist and an influential leader in the global theatrical community, Mr. Cimolino began his Stratford career in 1988 as an actor, and began to direct for the Stratford Festival in the mid-1990s, winning acclaim for numerous productions.

Mr. Cimolino is passionate about enriching the lives of others through the education and practice of the arts. His dedication to this cause led him to spearhead the Festival’s involvement in a joint project with CUSO, Canada’s international volunteer co-operation agency, to establish a performing arts and educational centre in the City of Suchitoto, El Savador.
 

Long-standing educator and politician Rick Bartolucci.Rick Bartolucci

Rick Bartolucci will have a doctorate of laws conferred upon him at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

Mr. Bartolucci was born in Sudbury and earned a Laurentian University Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973. He worked as a teacher and school principal for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board for 30 years before entering public office as a Sudbury city councillor from 1979 to 1982 and again from 1985 to 1991.

Mr. Bartolucci proceeded to win five provincial elections and served as member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2014, representing Sudbury for 19 years.

During those 19 years he held three Ministerial portfolios and served as Chair of Cabinet. Mr. Bartolucci’s tireless advocacy for funding was instrumental in the launch of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, the McEwen School of Architecture, the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation and the Vale Living with Lakes Centre. 
 

“We are proud to recognize two outstanding Sudburians who have the vision, ambition, and grit to take on leadership roles that improve our lives and enrich our communities,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux. “We are proud to honour them as distinguished members of our university community.” 

Both ceremonies will take place in the Auditorium of the H. J. Fraser Building.  Media interviews can be arranged in advance of the ceremonies. 

Convocation ceremonies will be live streamed and available for media who have COMREX and Dejero capacity.

Laurentian Names New Research, Innovation and Engineering Building in Honour of Clifford A. Fielding

Laurentian Names New Research, Innovation and Engineering Building in Honour of Clifford A. Fielding

$3 million dollar investment from the Fielding Family enables state-of-the-art facility

In honour of a $3 million investment from Mrs. Lily Fielding and her family, Laurentian University will name its new state-of-the-art facility the Clifford A. Fielding Research, Innovation, and Engineering Building.

As a result of this gift, the University will also honour Jim Fielding, late son of Clifford and Lily Fielding.  Jim Fielding was a passionate believer in education and greatly valued the role that Laurentian University plays in facilitating access to education while driving economic activity and innovation in the City of Greater Sudbury, Northern Ontario and beyond. 

“The Fielding family supported this project from the beginning and have been integral in realizing this much needed expansion of research and innovation space in our region,” said Dominic Giroux, President and Vice-Chancellor, Laurentian University. “Cliff was a great ambassador to our city, and advocated for driving innovative growth in the north. His family continues this legacy and we are proud to name this building in his honour.”

Lily Fielding and her family’s investment was an important part of the University’s proposal for strategic investment funding which was announced by the Canadian and Ontario governments on September 23, 2016. The project totals $60.7 million and will be completed in 2018.

“We are happy to lend support to Laurentian University for the role they play in driving growth and innovation in our community,” said Jamie Wallace, first Laurentian University alumnus to Chair the Board of Governors. “The Clifford A. Fielding Research, Innovation, and Engineering Building will have an immense impact on further driving economic activity and innovation in the City of Greater Sudbury, Northeastern Ontario and beyond.” 

The Fielding family has a long history of investing in both Laurentian and the Sudbury community.  Most recently, the city’s largest outdoor park, Kivi Park, was made possible thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Lily Fielding.  The Fielding family has established significant student awards at both Laurentian University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, including the Clifford Fielding Graduate Bursary, Brenda Wallace Management Scholarship and the Jim Fielding Memorial Bursary.  In 1968, a generous benefaction from the Fielding family resulted in the construction of the Fielding Memorial Chapel of St. Mark at Thorneloe University. 

The Clifford A. Fielding Research, Innovation and Engineering Building will include collaborative research and development space, innovation and commercialization space, as well as much needed space for the award-winning Bharti School of Engineering including four capstone innovation labs, a material analysis lab, environmental and soil mechanics lab, prototype development and machine shop, integrated software lab and lecture theatre, and a hydraulics and fluid mechanics lab. Each of these spaces have been identified in consultation with local industry in order to maximize inter-disciplinary opportunities.

About Clifford A. Fielding:

Cliff Fielding was born on the Fielding family farm, now Fielding Park, in Waters Township in 1915 and raised in Copper Cliff. An entrepreneur at the age of 20, he started a transportation company to haul ore and gravel for the mining companies and to provide construction services. He started his company using the family’s team of horses and shortly after a single truck.

By 1950 Cliff Fielding Limited had a staff of 50 and a fleet of 40 trucks. By then he had established Wavy Industries, which manufactured concrete ready mix and bulk cement mixing. At the time of his death, Fielding was Chair and CEO of Waters Holding Corporation. His interests included Alexander Centre Industries Limited (ACIL), Fisher Wavy Inc., Wavy Industries, Fisher Construction of Sudbury, and Fisher Harbour on La Cloche Island. Fielding also owned the Northern Ski Company, which made both alpine and cross-country skis from 1943 to 1950.

Known for having grown his thriving businesses in the Sudbury area, Fielding is also remembered for his work with the Canadian Pacific Railway, and his service to the Board at Memorial Hospital and at Laurentian University (1964-1979).  He received an honorary doctorate of science from Laurentian University and an honorary doctorate of canon law from Thorneloe University.

About Malcolm James (Jim) Fielding:

Born, raised and always proud to be a Sudburian. Jim held the position of Chairman of the Board of Alexander Centre Industries Ltd. (ACIL), Waters Holding Corporation and associate companies, which were established by his father in 1935.

Jim was elected as a Director of Canadian Pacific on May 7, 1986 and continued serving in that capacity through to his successful re-election in April 2000.

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and eighteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years.  

Canadian and Ontario governments invest $27.4 million in infrastructure at Laurentian

Canadian and Ontario governments invest $27.4 million in infrastructure at Laurentian

Part of $60.7 million project to include a new Research, Innovation and Engineering Building

SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 – The federal government will invest $21.1 million and the Ontario government will invest $6.3 million towards research and innovation infrastructure at Laurentian University. As part of a broad capital program totalling $60.7 million to be completed by March 2018, this $27.4 million investment is earmarked for the immediate construction of a new 47,000 sq ft Research, Innovation and Engineering Building. The announcement was made today by Members of Parliament Marc Serré and Paul Lefebvre, Deputy Premier Deb Matthews and Energy Minister and Sudbury Member of Provincial Parliament Glenn Thibeault. 

“The significant support of $27.4 million received today from this joint federal-provincial announcement, the largest infrastructure announcement in Laurentian’s 56-year history, allows for the expansion of much needed research and innovation space in our region,” said Jennifer Witty, Chair of the Board of Governors at Laurentian University.  “With this investment, we will build the infrastructure required to support education and research, foster innovation, and create opportunity for students while strengthening the economy.”

 

The federal investment is made through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund announced in the 2016 Federal Budget.  This $2-billion fund is intended to spur job creation, expand research and grow innovation by enhancing and modernizing research facilities on Canadian campuses while improving the environmental sustainability of these facilities. 

 

"Canada's post-secondary institutions are front-line agents in fostering science and research excellence. They help to train the workforce of tomorrow and create knowledge and insights necessary for the private sector and policy makers to build a thriving, clean economy," said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “Laurentian University has ambitious plans that will create well-paying jobs in its community while also delivering economic growth for years to come,” added Bains.

 

The provincial investment includes $5 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. “The Ontario government is proud to support this important project that will deliver new and improved facilities needed to prepare students for successful careers in engineering and research. As a result of these investments, students, faculty and staff will work in state-of-the-art facilities that advance the country's best research and support lifelong learning and skills training,” said the Honourable Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

 

The new Research, Innovation and Engineering Building, located between the Fraser and Parker buildings on the Sudbury campus, will include:

  • Collaborative Research and Development space, enabling researchers across the University to share equipment and expertise to operate highly-specialized equipment;
  • A dedicated Innovation and Commercialization space leveraging its partnership with the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) to help emerging start-ups by bridging the gap between laboratory and market;
  • Four capstone innovation labs allowing students in civil, chemical, mechanical and mining engineering to put their knowledge and skills to work to address creative design problems for actual clients;
  • A Materials Analysis Lab to support researchers, students and industry partners in chemical analysis as well as mechanical, metallurgical, corrosion, heat treatment and capability testing;
  • An Environmental and Soil Mechanics Lab will contain instrumentation, environmental chambers and other specialized equipment to support research, innovation and industry partners in the design of foundation and earth structures, and address issues in water chemistry, environmental microbiology, physical and chemical processes, and microbiological processes in addition to analytical equipment and bench-scale treatment systems;
  • A Prototype Development and Machine Shop enabling innovation requiring a physical system;
  • An Integrated Software Lab and Lecture Theatre will be equipped for computer- based activities using engineering software. This additional capacity will allow students to complete years 3 and 4 in civil engineering at Laurentian, and will accommodate bilingual engineering students who currently travel 400-600 km to complete their degrees;
  • A Hydraulics and Fluid Mechanics Lab enabling engineering students to learn and research about open channel and closed channel fluid flows.

“Over the last 10 years, Laurentian University has secured more than $200 million in research income while enrolment at the award-winning Bharti School of Engineering has increased from 100 to 700 students during that period,” said Laurentian President Dominic Giroux. “We have a major role to play in supporting research and innovation opportunities both for students and for industry partners. The support received by the federal and provincial governments will certainly help us meet these demands,” added Giroux.

In addition to the new Research, Innovation and Engineering Building, Laurentian’s $60.7 million capital program includes investments by the university towards a new Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Lab, new one-stop student services, a new Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre, renovations to five labs in the Faculty of Health and a new roof for the J.N. Desmarais Library. It also features a $11.2 million partnership with Greater Sudbury Utilities for a cogeneration initiative to update the University’s heating systems campus-wide to an energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) and aggregated district energy system. This will allow the University to reduce its electricity consumption by 79%.

A KPMG study estimates the direct economic activity generated by this project at over $102 million in gross economic output with $54 million contributed to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.  The project is estimated to support 625 person-years of employment.

Laurentian’s Research, Engineering and Innovation proposal was developed in consultation and in response to community needs identified by the City of Greater Sudbury, the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA), Greater Sudbury Utilities, Health Sciences North, Science North, NORCAT – Sudbury’s Innovation Centre, the Global Advisory Council of the Bharti School of Engineering and the Laurentian University Native Education Council (LUNEC) among others. Laurentian University received over 50 letters of support from community and industry partners.  For more information about the project click here.

Laurentian celebrates major successes in NSERC and SSHRC funding

Laurentian celebrates major successes in NSERC and SSHRC funding

$3.5M investment from Federal Government will support wide range of research and training

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 – Laurentian has been awarded $3.5 M from the Federal Government in Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funding. 

 

NSERC will deliver nearly $3.15M to Laurentian University through the CREATE, Discovery Grant and Research Tools and Instruments Grant programs.  “A greater number of researchers applied for funding through these programs this year and the University saw a record amount of successful proposals,” said Dr. Thomas Merritt, Laurentian’s NSERC Leader.

 

To increase success in the NSERC competition, Laurentian has offered workshops, mentoring and peer-to-peer support to researchers which strengthened the applications.

 

Laurentian was successful in increasing SSHRC funding this year.  “We saw an 11% increase in SSHRC funding over last year,” said Dr. Gillian Crozier, Laurentian’s SSHRC Leader. “This increase is due in large part to new awards in the Insight and Insight Development Grant programs.”

Laurentian researchers were also awarded new funding through SSHRC’s Connection Grant program which supports large-scale knowledge mobilization initiatives. 

Dr. Rui Wang, Vice-President Research, wishes to congratulate all Laurentian researchers and thanks NSERC and SSHRC for their support, “I am proud of Laurentian’s researchers across all seven faculties who excelled in this year’s NSERC and SSHRC competitions. Our achievements in these peer-reviewed national funding competitions is evidence of Laurentian’s national recognition and excellence in these areas.”

 

Key facts include:

  • SSHRC funding amount increased by 11% in 2015-2016 over 2014-15;
  • NSERC funding amount increased by 45% in 2015-16 over 2014-15;
  • Areas of research that will benefit from NSERC funding include: Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Human Kinetics, Math and Computer Science, and Physics;
  • The success rate of Laurentian’s NSERC Discovery grant applications is 55% in 2016 compared to 29% in 2015;
  • The NSERC CREATE Grant Program supports the training of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs;
  • The NSERC Discovery Grants Program supports ongoing research with long-term goals; 
  • The NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Grants Program provides the primary avenue for university researchers in the natural sciences and engineering to obtain up to $150,000 in support for research tools and instruments;
  • The primary objective of the SSHRC Insight Program is to build knowledge and understanding from disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or cross-sector perspectives through support for the best researchers;
  • SSHRC Insight Development Grants support research in its initial stages. The grants enable the development of new research questions, as well as experimentation with new methods, theoretical approaches and/or ideas. Funding is provided for short-term research development projects, of up to two years, proposed by individuals or teams;

SSHRC Connection Grants support events and outreach activities geared toward short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives.

Federal Government Invests $49M in $104M Mineral Exploration Research Program

Federal Government Invests $49M in $104M Mineral Exploration Research Program

Funding is the largest single investment in University’s history.

Laurentian University is launching an unprecedented research effort to help the mineral industry make lower risk exploration investments in Canada and abroad and reverse the current lower discovery rates of new mineral deposits.

 

This seven-year initiative named Metal Earth received a boost of $49,269,000 over seven years from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF).  The announcement was made today by Sudbury Member of Parliament, Paul Lefebvre and Nickel Belt Member of Parliament, Marc Serré on behalf of the Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan. Twenty-two partners from academia, industry and government are providing $55 million in cash and in-kind contributions to this $104 million effort.

 

“Laurentian University is already #1 in Canada in economic geology research funding and among the best in the world,” said Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre. “We are proud to support Laurentian and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences in becoming the undisputed global leader in mineral exploration research,” added Lefebvre.

 

“This investment will result in increased exploration expenditures and investments in Canada, higher discovery rates, and the development of new mines,” explained Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré. “Findings from Metal Earth will be transferable around the world and position Canada as an authoritative leader in the global quest for metals. It will attract even more talent and partnership opportunities to Sudbury,” said Serré.

 

CFREF helps Canadian postsecondary institutions excel globally in research areas that create long-term economic advantages for Canada. The inaugural competition led to five awards totaling $350 million in 2015. The federal government announced today $900 million to 13 universities out of 51 applicants. Each institution could only submit one application. A third competition is expected to be launched in 2021-22. Funding decisions were made by a high profile selection board following peer review based on scientific merit and demonstrated capacity to lead on an international scale, strategic relevance to Canada, and the quality of the implementation plan.

 

“This is the largest funding announcement in Laurentian’s 56-year history and the largest exploration research program ever undertaken in Canada We thank the federal government for its growing commitment to science and innovation,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux who pointed out that Laurentian is the only primarily undergraduate university among the 16 competitively-selected universities since the inception of CFREF.

 

Earlier today, Laurentian University also announced a $10 million gift from the Harquail family towards its Department of Earth Sciences which is being renamed as the Harquail School of Earth Sciences. David Harquail is the President and CEO of Franco-Nevada Corporation, a gold-focused royalty company listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

 

“This CFREF result is a testament to the excellence of faculty, staff and students at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre,” added Giroux.

 

“Global metal reserves are being depleted due to increased demand and decreased global discovery rates over the past 10 years,” explained Dr. Harold Gibson, Director of the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences and lead of Metal Earth. “Spending on exploration has increased while discovery rates have decreased. Without a means to discover and extract metals, modern societies will be faced with a crisis that will detrimentally impact social, technological, and industrial development. Canada has untapped mineral deposits,” added Gibson.

 

Metals are a key driver of Canada’s economy: 19.6% of Canada’s exports and 4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Metal Earth will provide industry and government with the new knowledge, highly qualified personnel, protocols, and tools to focus exploration and infrastructure dollars in areas with the highest metal endowment. “Metal Earth is a new approach, it goes beyond traditional research at deposit or district’s scale. It will transform how we explore for metals and our understanding of Earth’s early evolution”, concluded Gibson.

 

Metal Earth will involve researchers from Laurentian and its partner institutions and the recruitment of over 35 post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, technicians and support staff, over 80 graduate and 100 undergraduate students and numerous subcontracts. It will lead to the hiring at Laurentian of a Research Chair in Exploration Targeting and three additional faculty members in Precambrian Geology, Earth Systems Modelling and Exploration Geophysics.

 

Laurentian University’s partners in Metal Earth include the geological surveys of Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, TMAC Resources, the Carnegie Institute, Noront Resources Ltd, the University of Western Australia, Université Laval, the University of Tasmania, the University of Toronto, the Harquail family, the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, the University of Ottawa, Vale, MIRA Geoscience Ltd, the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation and MIRARCO.

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian University, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and eighteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years. 

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