Government of Canada Celebrates Strong Support for Cutting-Edge Research at Dalhousie University

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 9, 2016) - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Federal investments in several disciplines will help push the frontiers of knowledge in fields like ocean and coastal research, children's health, and sustainable infrastructure. Today, Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, accompanied by Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, participated in an event at Dalhousie University to celebrate the appointment of six new innovative and talented researchers as Canada Research Chairs.

Dalhousie University will receive $5.7 million for these new chairs. This includes Dr. Pedram Sadeghian, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure. Dr. Sadeghian will explore advanced materials and new technologies to increase the sustainability of existing and new civil engineering infrastructure. This research will lead to new structural systems with longer service life, better performance and less environmental impact, thus helping improve Canada's infrastructure.

Minister Bains also announced an additional $8.3 million through the Research Support Fund to cover the indirect costs of research at the university as well as nearly $370,000 in infrastructure support through the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This funding will help support cutting-edge research in a number of fields, including environmental and climate science.

Quotes

"Attracting and retaining the world's brightest minds is critical to ensuring that Canada is positioned to conduct world-class levels of scientific research, achieve technological excellence and compete in the global economy. The researchers that we are celebrating today at Dalhousie University offer unique and essential expertise to help develop technologies and services to benefit the province of Nova Scotia, Canada and the world."

-The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"I am very pleased to celebrate the new Canada Research Chairs at Dalhousie University and the renewal of Dr. Stokesbury's Chair at Acadia University. His research on fish behaviour and survival will lead to strategies that promote economic activity in coastal communities without causing significant harm to fish populations. Government of Canada investments in research are strengthening our country's competitiveness and helping train the next generation of our highly skilled workforce."

-The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board

"The Canada Research Chairs program remains a cornerstone of our efforts to attract and retain the brightest minds in Canada. It has become one of our most important and respected investments in research and provides resources to mentor and train the research leaders of tomorrow."

-Dr. Mario Pinto, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

"Leading researchers are pushing the boundaries of sustainable technologies, but their efforts rely on state-of-the-art facilities and labs. With the right tools, Canada's top researchers are helping to reduce our environmental burden, stimulate the economy of the future and transform our lives."

-Dr. Gilles Patry, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation

"We're very pleased that Minister Bains and Minister Brison are here to personally honour our newest Canada Research Chairs. We are thrilled to have the expertise and insight of these researchers at Dalhousie University. Their work contributes not only to the Dalhousie community but also to the world as a whole."

-Dr. Richard Florizone, President of Dalhousie University

"I was working in the U.S. as an Assistant Professor, but I always wanted to come back to Canada, where I was trained as a postdoctoral fellow. The Canada Research Chair program made my return possible."

-Dr. Pedram Sadeghian, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure, Dalhousie University

Quick facts

• More than 1,700 Canada Research Chairs are working at over 70 post-secondary institutions across the country.

• A total of twenty-one new and renewed Canada Research Chairs are being announced in Atlantic Canada: four in New Brunswick, four in Newfoundland and Labrador, and thirteen in Nova Scotia.

• In Nova Scotia, the breakdown of new and renewed chairs is as follow: six at Dalhousie University, three at Saint Mary's University, two at St. Francis Xavier University, one at Acadia University and one at Université Sainte-Anne.

• The Research Support Fund offsets a portion of the costs associated with managing research at Canadian institutions such as training costs for workplace health and safety, maintenance costs for libraries and laboratories, and administrative costs.

• The Canada Foundation for Innovation gives researchers the tools they need to innovate by investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada's universities, colleges, research hospitals and not-for-profit research institutions.

• Created in 2000, the Canada Research Chairs program has helped attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds. Canada Research Chairs deepen our knowledge, enhance our quality of life and grow our economy.

Associated links

Recipients list

Follow the Minister on Twitter: @MinisterISED