Province Contributes $1.17 M for Powerful New U of S New Research Tools

Posted April 05, 2000


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 4, 2000 2000-04-02-OTHER

Province Contributes $1.17 M for Powerful New U of S New Research Tools

Four University of Saskatchewan researchers will receive a total of almost $1.17 million from the provincial Strategic Initiatives Fund (SIF) for research equipment that could lead to advances such as better risk assessment of potentially toxic wastes, better films for medical X-ray machines, and improved telemedicine technology.

The announcement made Monday by Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon will match federal funding of $920,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for three of the projects.

"In total, the SIF and CFI awards represent more than a $2-million investment in powerful new research equipment for the University of Saskatchewan," said Michael Corcoran, Vice-President of Research. "These awards not only pave the way for new knowledge and important discoveries but help foster a dynamic research climate on our campus."

Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon said, "These projects will greatly enhance the research capabilities of our universities and Saskatchewan's reputation as a leader in research and development in Canada. They underscore our government's commitment to the 'r and d' that builds our knowledge-based economy and ultimately creates jobs and opportunities for people."

David Strangway, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, said, "These projects are critical to build the capacity to conduct leading-edge research in Saskatchewan. The new facilities and installations will also be used to train more young Canadians for the knowledge-based economy."

The SIF-CFI award recipients are:

  • Ronald Miller, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will receive $901,904 in provincial funding and a CFI contribution of $701,904 for a specialized electron microscope.

    The new Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) is a versatile piece of equipment that will be used by researchers in engineering, geological sciences, chemistry, physics and soil science.

    U of S researchers will be able to do high-resolution imaging to study the structure of minerals, metals, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers and biological tissues. A present, faculty and graduate students have to travel to other provinces to use STEM facilities.

    This work will benefit a wide variety of industrial sectors ranging from electronics to the steel industry. It could lead to:

    - Better welding techniques for manufacturing firms
    - Cheaper and more effective methods for firms to manage wastes from their mines
    - New sensors for detecting drinking water contaminants
    - Better films for medical X-ray machines
    - Stronger and more reliable materials for vehicles

    The STEM will complement research materials to be carried out at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron and will enhance the research of local industries such as Hitachi, PCS Inc., IPSCO Inc. and the metals mining industry.


  • Mark Wickstrom, associate professor at the Toxicology Centre, will receive $117,800 each from the provincial government and the CFI to establish a toxicity laboratory on campus.

    Wickson will upgrade equipment to create a state-of-the-art lab for assessing potential effects of new biotechnology and nutraceutical products. The equipment will also be used to determine toxic effects of environmental contaminants in mining and petroleum industry waste.

    The new lab will address the needs of both industry and government research partners. For instance, it will be a resource for agrochemical companies testing new pesticides and for mining and petroleum companies assessing the risks of potentially toxic wastes.


  • Carl Gutwin, assistant professor of computer science, will receive $99,835 each from SIF and the CFI to purchase computer hardware that will be used by faculty, research assistants, graduate students and visiting researchers.

    This software allows computer users separated by long distances to work collaboratively, handling large amounts of data communicated at high speed. Computer users in a given group will be able to visualize not only the data, but also the ways that others in the work group are interacting with it.

    This work has implications for telemedicine and distance education. For instance, physicians in Saskatoon might collaborate via computer with a remote medical practitioner to interactively assess a patient's records, X-rays and test results.

    The lab is expected to attract graduate students and researchers from Canada and around the world. Many of the discoveries from this research will likely be commercialized and incorporated in the next generation of software applications.


  • The province is also providing $50,000 to Shahab Sokhansanj, a professor in the department of agricultural and bioresource engineering, for a lab-scale dryer for the soon to-be-opened bioprocessing laboratory on campus.

    The dryer will be used to study the drying process for grains, herbs and other agricultural materials. U of S researchers will be able to take the information gathered about the drying behavior of these materials and provide design data for improved commercial-scale drying.

The CIF is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the federal government in 1997 to provide much-needed state-of-the-art research infrastructure.

Saskatchewan's Strategic Initiatives Fund was renamed the Strategic Investment Fund in the recent provincial budget. It's mandate is to provide seed money and to fund feasibility studies, business plans and specialized technical equipment purchases for the province's research firms.

For more information, contact:

Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506

Ron Miller
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
(306) 966-5479

Mark Wickstrom
Associate Professor, Toxicology Centre
(306) 966-7446

Carl Gutwin
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
(306) 966-8646

Shahab Sokhansanj
Professor, Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering
(306) 966-5310