UNIVERSITY OF REGINA RESEARCHERS RECEIVE FUNDING

Released on December 12, 2002

Three new faculty members at the University of Regina are receiving a boost

of more than $200,000 from the province to carry out innovative science

research.



The funding will be used to help set up a new facility and purchase

equipment for research projects in the engineering, geology and

chemistry/biochemistry departments.



"This is an investment to ensure our best and brightest reach their full

potential," Industry and Resources Minister Eldon Lautermilch said. "It is

also an investment in attracting and retaining research superstars.

Maximizing the innovative capacity of our province keeps us at the

forefront of a highly competitive, knowledge-based marketplace."



Provincial support comes from the Innovation and Science Fund and matches

contributions from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) under a

program to assist new university faculty members acquire the infrastructure

they need to conduct world-class research.



The provincial funding includes:



$57,200 toward a supercomputer that could lead to cheaper and

cleaner traditional and alternative fuel processing. The lead

researcher will be Dr. Allan East of the university's chemistry and

biochemistry department.



$68,500 for equipment to study the characteristics of non-linear

vibrations and noise. This research could help increase

productivity in high speed and precision machining by 25 per cent;

reduce noise levels in offices and manufacturing plants; and enable

the design of highway and railroad cargo tanks that are longer

lasting and more durable. The lead researcher will be Dr. Liming

Dai of the engineering faculty.



$82,000 to help establish an imaging and spectroscopy facility to

study the emission of photons of light exhibited by minerals. This

facility will increase understanding of petroleum reservoirs and

other geological resources. The lead researcher will be Dr. Ian

Coulson of the geology department.



"Working with state-of-the-art infrastructure will help launch the careers

of some of the University of Regina's highly talented new faculty members,"

said Dr. David Strangway, President and CEO of the CFI. "I am confident

that the work of these New Opportunity Fund researchers will not only bring

benefits to the university, but to the community at large."



"The University of Regina is proud of its expanding research enterprise and

thanks the Saskatchewan government and the Canada Foundation for Innovation

for their support," Vice-president (Research and International) Allan

Cahoon said. "Our researchers are enthusiastic about intellectual

activity, both curiosity-driven and applied. Our University strives to

develop innovative research programs."



The Innovation and Science Fund provides support to Saskatchewan

universities, colleges and research institutes on projects receiving

approval and funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canada

Research Chairs, the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and the

Canadian Institutes of Health Research.



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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For more information, contact:



Bob Ellis

Industry and Resources

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-8277

Email: rellis@ir.gov.sk.ca



Suzanne Quinn

Canada Foundation for Innovation

Ottawa

Phone: (613) 996-3160

Email: suzanne.quinn@innovation.ca



Sandy Cameron

University of Regina

Regina

Phone: (306) 585-5439

Email: sandy.cameron@uregina.ca