CFI Invests $248,000 to Support Four New U of S Researchers

Posted October 18, 2002


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 18, 2002 2002-10-07-OTHER

CFI Invests $248,000 to Support Four New U of S Researchers

Peter MacKinnon, President of the University of Saskatchewan, today welcomed
an investment of more than $248,000 from the Canada Foundation for
Innovation (CFI) to provide cutting-edge infrastructure support for four
newly recruited faculty members.

"Today's announcement will provide some of our talented new faculty with the
tools they need to do world-class research in fields ranging from
biochemistry to veterinary biomedical science," said MacKinnon.

As well, with this announcement U of S becomes eligible for an additional
almost $75,000 from the CFI Infrastructure Operating Fund which contributes
to operating and maintenance costs associated with CFI projects.

He noted that the total funding to U of S from the CFI New Opportunities
Fund has now reached more than $5.3 million for 36 projects since the
inception of the program.

"Today's announcement is a good news story for our community," said the
Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Works and MP for Wascana.
"These researchers will attract top quality students to our universities.
Their research activities will continue to bolster the development of new
knowledge economy clusters in our region."

"Attracting and retaining such high-calibre researchers to our universities
is absolutely vital to enhancing Canada's ability to compete in a
knowledge-based global economy and will help us achieve our goal of making
Canada one of the world's most innovative nations," said Industry Minister
Allan Rock.

Successful U of S applicants:

- Ike Oguocha (mechanical engineering) -- $79,752 for equipment to study the
thermo-chemical behavior of aluminum metal matrix composites (metal alloys
reinforced with ceramic fibres or particles), which are used in the
automotive industry to improve the strength and efficiency of parts such as
pistons, brakes, and clutch disks. This equipment will contribute to U of S
strengths in materials characterization.

- Jaswant Singh (veterinary biomedical sciences) -- $70,000 to develop an
ultrasound biomicroscope facility that will allow safe and repeated medical
imaging of live tissues at microscopic resolutions. This equipment will
strengthen unique U of S research capability in the field of ultrasound
image analysis.

- Hong Wang (biochemistry) -- $60,000 for equipment to study molecular and
biochemical control of plant cell division and growth, and to compare these
processes in plants and animals. This new knowledge will build on current U
of S biotechnology strengths.

- Sam Butler (geology) -- $38,742 for high-performance computing equipment
used in geological fluid-flow simulations to explain the Earth's long-term
evolution and the processes that form the Earth's crust. This equipment will
maintain Canada's standing as a leader in Earth science research.

Today's announcement is part of $17 million announced nationally under the
New Opportunities Fund designed to help launch the careers of new and
talented faculty members. As well, $5.1 million was announced nationally
from the Infrastructure Operating Fund.

Selection criteria included quality of research, need for infrastructure,
and potential benefits of the research to Canada. CFI funds 40 per cent of
the costs, and researchers must come up with the remainder from other
sources.

The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the
Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity for innovation in
Canadian universities and research institutions.
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Contact information:

Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research

Suzanne Quinn
Canada Foundation for Innovation
(613) 996-3160
suzanne.quinn@innovation.ca
http://www.innovation.ca/