Diplomats Speak on Big Science Investment Sept. 28th

Posted September 24, 2004


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 24, 2004 2004-09-14-OTHER

Diplomats Speak on Big Science Investment Sept. 28th

SASKATOON - Diplomats from Great Britain and France will address members of
the Saskatoon research and business communities during a luncheon and panel
discussion -- 'Investing in Big Science - A Vital Foundation for Innovation
and Prosperity' -- Tuesday, September 28th at Innovation Place.

David Reddaway, British High Commissioner to Canada, and Daniel Jouanneau,
the Ambassador of France, will speak about the R and D experiences of their
respective countries at the forum. Media are welcome to attend.

Hosted by the Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce, Saskatoon Regional
Economic Development Authority (SREDA), Innovation Place and the University
of Saskatchewan, the event is in recognition of the grand opening of the
Canadian Light Source October 22nd.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for the U of S, the CLS and Saskatoon
industry," says U of S President Peter MacKinnon. "The kind of scientific
work underway at our synchrotron and other centres of research excellence on
campus, and at Innovation Place, is putting Saskatoon and Canada on the
world stage in research and development. Of particular note are the national
and international collaborations that are happening among academic
institutions, government and industry because of the people and
infrastructure we have been able to attract to our campus."

The $173.5-million Canadian Light Source (www.lightsource.ca)-which is owned
by the University of Saskatchewan-has received funding from national,
provincial and municipal governments, as well as universities and industry,
making it one of the nation's largest investments in science in the past 30
years.

The synchrotron is expected to have a tremendous economic and scientific
impact on Canada's research and development capabilities in the life
sciences, pharmaceuticals, materials, and the environment. CLS expects to
grow towards 25 per cent industrial use, a higher proportion than other
synchrotrons to date.

"This visit is a chance to learn about the experiences of two of our closest
allies on the importance of investing in large-scale science projects like
the CLS," says Kent Smith-Windsor, Executive Director of the Saskatoon and
District Chamber of Commerce. "It's also a chance to demonstrate our own
success in building academic and commercial partnerships to members of the
international community."

There are synchrotrons in both Britain and France. The European Synchrotron
Radiation Facility (ESRF, www.esrf.fr) in Grenoble, France and the
Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS) in Daresbury, England (www.srs.ac.uk)
have both been operating for some time. Britain is constructing a second
synchrotron near Oxford University (www.diamond.ac.uk) and France is
building a new national facility near Paris.

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Note to editors: The luncheon will start at 12:00 p.m. in the Candle Room at
Innovation Place, followed immediately by the panel discussion.

For more information contact:

Matthew Dalzell
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Light Source Inc.
Phone: (306) 657-3739
Fax: (306) 657-353
Cell: (306) 227-0978
matthew.dalzell@lightsource.ca
www.lightsource.ca

Rob Norris
Coordinator - Global Relations
Office of the University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-2428
Fax: (306) 975-1026
rob.norris@usask.ca