Canadian Light Source Experts to Collaborate with Spanish Synchrotron Team
Posted November 07, 2003
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Friday, November 7, 2003 2003-11-07-OTHER
Canadian Light Source Experts to Collaborate with Spanish Synchrotron Team
Experts from Canada and Spain will combine their knowledge and resources to
help advance science and technology at the Canadian Light Source (CLS)
synchrotron and Spain's Sincrotrón del Vallès.
Representatives of the CLS, the University of Saskatchewan and the Spanish
synchrotron project recently signed a five-year memorandum of understanding
to trade technical specifications, as well as scientific and engineering
staff and know-how.
"Our teams complement each other's strengths very well," said CLS executive
director Bill Thomlinson. "Spain's scientists offer valuable expertise in
building and operating beamlines, while our own team offers experience with
actually building and commissioning a synchrotron facility."
Spain, which is about to break ground for its synchrotron project this year,
has developed expertise with synchrotron science and engineering through its
ownership of two beamlines at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
(ESRF) in Grenoble, France.
The CLS, expected to start operations in spring 2004, is particularly
interested in the Spanish advanced detection devices, used to capture
experimental data, as well as their knowledge of insertion devices used to
manipulate and focus the intense synchrotron light beam.
"We have a huge effort ahead of us this year to commission our beamlines and
get them to the point where we can carry out scientific experiments," said
Emil Hallin, CLS experimental facilities manager, who signed on behalf of
the CLS at a ceremony on the Spanish island of Menorca. "We have a lot of
highly skilled and talented people, but we need to augment this."
These extra hands will be provided by Spanish scientists who will provide
their expert talents to the CLS while gaining experience in commissioning a
synchrotron.
The MOU also outlines other potential areas for collaboration, including
research efforts with scientific programs at both facilities; development of
technical and scientific research and development programs; collaborations
with local industry to provide synchrotron services or construction
expertise; and educational opportunities including exchange of scientific
expertise and trainees and applications for mutual access to the beamlines
at both synchrotrons.
The Spanish synchrotron will be built at the University of Barcelona in the
Vallès high technology development area. Coincidentally, the vendor
that built the electromagnets for the CLS chose the University of Barcelona
to test these critical components.
The Spanish facility is scheduled to come online in 2008. It joins other new
synchrotron projects under way in Europe, including Synchrotron Soleil in
France and Diamond Light Source in the United Kingdom.
The U of S-owned CLS is one of the largest science projects in the country
and one of the most advanced synchrotrons in the world. The $173.4-million
project is nearing the final stages of construction.
Synchrotron light -- millions of times brighter than sunlight -- is used to
view chemical reactions and the micro-structure of materials, paving the way
for new drugs, more powerful computer chips, better engine lubricants, more
effective medical imaging and a host of other applications for science and
industry.
CLS funding partners include the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the
Canadian government (including Western Economic Diversification, Natural
Resources Canada, the National Research Council, NSERC, and the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research), Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, Ontario
Innovation Trust, Alberta Innovation and Science, Alberta Heritage
Foundation for Medical Research, U of S, the City of Saskatoon, SaskPower,
Boehringer Ingelheim, University of Western Ontario, and the University of
Alberta. GlaxoSmithKline has also provided funding for a U of S chair in an
area of synchrotron science.
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For more Canadian Light Source information, pictures and graphics, visit
www.cls.usask.ca.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Emil Hallin
Canadian Light Source
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 657-3539
emil.hallin@lightsource.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
http://www.usask.ca/research/
