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Physics Prof Receives Grant of $4.225 Million

Award to Jeff Martin largest ever to a Manitoba academic from CFI

June 22, 2009

WINNIPEG, MB - UWinnipeg Physics professor Jeff Martin is the recipient of research funding of $4.225-million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), which is the largest award to a Manitoba post-secondary institution since CFI was founded in 1997.

Martin will use the funds to construct the Canadian Spallation Ultracold Neutron Source, which will be the world’s highest density source of ultracold neutrons.

“The source will establish Canadian leadership in fundamental neutron physics research,” said Martin. Martin leads an international collaboration from Canada, Japan and the US. The Canadian institutions involved are: The University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba, Simon Fraser University, University of Northern British Columbia, and TRIUMF (Canada’s National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Science in Vancouver, BC).

The project will be funded over a four-year period, combined with other contributions from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science led by Yasuhiro Masuda from the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK, Tsukuba, Japan), Acsion Industries (Pinawa, MB), TRIUMF and other sources.

“We are extremely pleased to have been granted funding for this vital research project at The University of Winnipeg,” said Brian Stevenson, UWinnipeg Provost & Vice-President (Academic). “Professor Martin’s project is an excellent example of the research being conducted in our Faculty of Science."

"This is a critical step in the development of Canadian neutron physics and in particular, the research into ultracold neutrons,” said Sandra Kirby, Associate Vice-President (Research) & Dean of Graduate Studies. “We applaud Dr. Martin and his team who have created a research plan that allows The University of Winnipeg-led team to work with other institutions in the area of subatomic physics. This will serve as a magnet for other researchers and for graduate students who want to work with the team in experimental physics. It is beneficial for the Province of Manitoba, the Department of Physics, the Faculty of Science and The University of Winnipeg."

"Jeff Martin is one of the most promising young researchers in the country,” said Rod Hanley, UWinnipeg Dean of Science. “This major CFI award further enhances the strong reputation that Winnipeg and Manitoba is building for high-quality, important research that could lead to tremendous breakthroughs that benefit society."

“The CFI’s support of cutting-edge research infrastructure has transformed Canada’s research landscape and increased the country’s international competitiveness,” said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, CFI President & CEO. “Investments like these have allowed The University of Winnipeg to become a destination of choice for some of the world’s top research talent.”

Funding for this project is part of a major $666,128,376 investment announced by the CFI to support 133 projects at 41 institutions across the country: $264,741,466 was awarded under the New Initiatives Fund (NIF), designed to enhance Canada’s capacity in promising new areas of research and technology development.

Another $247,664,977 was awarded under the Leading Edge Fund (LEF), designed to enable institutions to build on and enhance already successful and productive initiatives supported by part CFI investment. Finally, $153,721,933 was award under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, which assists institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure.

A complete list of projects funded today by the CFI can be found at: www.innovation.ca.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, C: 204.293.1167, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca

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