Queen to Visit Canadian Light Source, University of Saskatchewan

Posted April 22, 2005


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 22, 2005 2005-04-08-OTHER

Queen to Visit Canadian Light Source, University of Saskatchewan

SASKATOON - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke
of Edinburgh will visit the University of Saskatchewan's Canadian Light
Source synchrotron on Thursday, May 19 as part of the Royal Visit
commemorating Saskatchewan's centennial.

"We are honoured to be included in the Royal Visit and to have the
opportunity to showcase our world-class research facilities and the cutting
edge science we are doing in human, animal and plant studies," says
University of Saskatchewan Secretary, Gordon Barnhart. "The Canadian Light
Source is a shining example of the University of Saskatchewan's leadership
in innovation and research."

Officially opened in October 2004, the national synchrotron facility at the
University of Saskatchewan is one of the country's largest science projects
in the last 30 years. It is funded through an unprecedented collaboration
among the university and all three levels of government: the federal
government; the provinces of Saskatchewan, Ontario and Alberta; and the City
of Saskatoon. Significant funds were also provided by industry partners in
the energy and pharmaceutical sectors. The synchrotron will be used by
researchers in academia, government and industry.

"Research at the Canadian Light Source will improve the quality of life of
people around the world," says CLS Executive Director William Thomlinson.
"Like the people of this province, we are thrilled that Her Majesty is
visiting this state-of-the-art facility that was designed and built in
Saskatchewan."

Synchrotron light is used to determine the chemical nature and the
molecular structure of materials, paving the way for new drugs, more
powerful computer chips, better engine lubricants, more effective medical
imaging, environmental monitoring and a host of other applications for
science and industry. There are currently six synchrotrons in the
Commonwealth: the CLS, the Daresbury Synchrotron Radiation Source in the UK
(soon to be replaced by the Diamond synchrotron in Oxfordshire), two in
India, one in Singapore and one under construction in Australia.

More information on the Canadian Light Source is available at:
www.lightsource.ca.

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For more information contact:

Rob Norris
Coordinator, Global Relations
Office of the University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 612-2428
Rob.Norris@usask.ca