Boere, Gonzalez receive CFI funding

trevor.kenney — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:54:17 +0000

Federal, provincial and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge officials have delivered more than $700,000 for new equipment to two research groups on campus.

Through the Canada Foundation for Innovation Leaders Opportunity Fund and matching support from the Province of Alberta Small Equipment Grant Program administered through the Department of Advanced Education and Technology, the researchers will receive a combined $547,778.

Additional support from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and industry partners brings that total to more than $700,000.

Dr. Rene Boere (chemistry and biochemistry) lead a group application to fund specialized imaging equipment that will be used to examine the fine details of nanomaterials ($352,008).

Dr. Claudia Gonzalez (kinesiology and physical education) will receive funding to obtain equipment that she will use to monitor in greater detail how the brain processes motor skill signals that control such activities as hand and eye movement ($195,770)

"Supporting science is key to Canada's future economic growth," says Rick Casson, MP for Lethbridge.

"Our government's commitment to helping universities attract and retain world-leading research talent will lead to discoveries that improve the quality of life of Canadians and create new jobs. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has been making creativity and innovation household words in southern Alberta and beyond, and this funding today reinforces that process."

The federal government recently announced $61 million through the CFI Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF) to support the work of 339 leading researchers and 245 projects at 48 Canadian research institutions.

Additional funds were received through the Province of Alberta's Small Equipment Grant program, which funds projects that meet a high degree of research excellence and alignment with Alberta's research and innovation priorities.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is building a reputation for research excellence," says Greg Weadick, MLA for Lethbridge-West. "The Government of Alberta is very proud to be a part of this success and to help support brilliant researchers like Dr. Gonzalez and Dr. Boere."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Mike Mahon says that investment from the federal and provincial governments, working in partnership, are critical in ensuring that researchers have the tools they need to answer the important questions facing communities in Alberta, Canada and beyond.

"It cannot be understated how important a strong research program is to the health of an institution that serves undergraduate and graduate students. Our student-first approach is strengthened because our students are able to interact with talented, supported researchers like Dr. Gonzalez, Dr. Boere, and their colleagues," says Mahon.

Mahon adds that research investments are also critical in ensuring that Alberta and Canada are able to recruit and retain talented faculty and students from across the globe.

"The U of L is in a fortunate position. Researchers, graduate and undergraduate students from jurisdictions where funding to post-secondary sector have been drastically cut are surveying the landscape. When they see the Governments of Canada and Alberta investing in a knowledge economy -- as they are today -- they are compelled to consider if their research program or educational experience is better suited at a comprehensive, destination university like the U of L."

Investment to aid in renovation plans

trevor.kenney — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:40:45 +0000

As the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's new Markin Hall structure continues to take shape, plans are being made to renovate two other areas of the U of L campus. An announced investment of $1.8 million from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program will help further that project.

On behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Canada's Minister of State for Science and Technology, Rick Casson, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge along with Province of Alberta representative Greg Weadick, MLA for Lethbridge West, announced a joint Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment of $1.8 million in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Monday.

"This investment in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will provide a significant short-term economic stimulus to our region, and will create jobs," said Casson, MP for Lethbridge.

The funds will be used to renovate space in Anderson Hall and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, which will be vacated once the Faculties of Health Sciences and Management move into Markin Hall, the $65 million facility currently under construction and scheduled to open in fall, 2010.

The renovated spaces, which include seminar rooms and social sciences research facilities, are expected to be occupied in 2011.

"Our government is investing in innovation to create jobs, to help our economy recover quickly and to improve the quality of life for Canadians. The long term benefit to our community will also be realized when the students and researchers in these new spaces at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge start taking advantage of a significantly improved work and study environment."

"Partnerships bring success, and success is what our joint investment in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is all about," added Weadick, MLA for Lethbridge West.

"The Government of Alberta is already a significant infrastructure investor in the U of L's success, as evidenced by our commitment to fund the Markin Hall construction project and other projects on campus. The changes being made with this funding will allow even more students and researchers to study and work in quality space."

"We are very pleased to have this additional funding to ensure we can meet the demands of our growing campus," U of L President Bill Cade said.

"The creation of space for our students and social sciences researchers is particularly important to ensure a quality work and learning environment. Further, as a generator of business for the construction industry in general, we are happy to play a role, with our federal and provincial partners, in helping the local economy."

This investment is part of the federal government's two-year, $2-billion plan to repair and expand research and educational facilities at Canadian colleges and universities.

The program is helping to provide economic stimulus and promote employment by creating jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. It is also helping to generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada's colleges and universities at the forefront of scientific advancement.

UNews - MP for Lethbridge

Boere, Gonzalez receive CFI funding

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Investment to aid in renovation plans

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