Last fall, the Division of Surface Science endorsed the efforts of the Canadian Institute for Synchrotron Radiation (CISR) to organize the Canadian scientific community around the establishment of a Canadian synchrotron source. Significant progress has been made towards this goal. Two proposals were submitted: one from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and the other from the University of Western Ontario in London. Just last month, an NSERC Committee visited the sites, received depositions, and have deliberated upon their recommendations. It is thought that their decision regarding which project to recommend will be forthcoming within a month. With a favorable recommendation, the surface science community can hope that such a project may receive the green light from government and that within a few years we can have our own national site for performing synchrotron studies. We all understand the additional challenges that face the project because of the unusually tough fiscal times we are in, but regardless of the outcome in the immediate future, we do extend our appreciation to Mike Bancroft (University of Western Ontario) and all those who have worked with him, who have all done so much to bring this project to this point. We wish the best of luck to both proposals.
Here is the news release from the CISR regarding the results of the above mentioned proposals. Congratulations to the Univeristy of Saskatchewan. Our united efforts should help bring about the realization of a Canadian Light Source.
(June 3, 1996) The Canadian Institute for Synchrotron Radiation (CISR) has endorsed a recommendation that a major new national research facility, to be called the Canadian Light Source (CLS), be constructed at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.The CISR endorsement was based on the results of an international peer-review assessment conducted by the federal Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The CLS will enable Canadian and international scientists in universities, government, and industry to carry out advanced materials research, with applications as diverse as pharmaceuticals, aeronautics, waste management, and medical technology.
The CISR represents the community of Canadian researchers using synchrotron radiation. It asked NSERC's assistance in evaluating proposals for the CLS. NSERC set up an international blue-ribbon committee, the "Advisory Committee on Site Selection of the CLS". Its mandate was to evaluate the need for a Canadian synchrotron light facility and to use a stringent peer-review process to rank proposals submitted in open competition. The six-member committee of internationally-recognized experts reviewed proposals from two multi-university consortia, one led by the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario), the other led by the University of Saskatchewan. The committee examined the proposals and anonymous referee reports from Canadian and foreign experts. They also visited the proposed sites. Eleven detailed criteria were used to assist them in arriving at their unanimous decision. These criteria included: scientific and engineering excellence of the proposed facility; contributions to the training of new engineers, scientists and technologists; and the roles and funding contributions of other partners to the proposed facility.
The committee recognized the high quality of synchrotron radiation research being carried out by numerous groups across Canada. It recommended very strongly that a synchrotron light source be built in Canada. Though both groups supplied highly competitive bids, the unanimous recommendation of the committee was that the CLS facility be located at the University of Saskatchewan. Factors which influenced the decision included: the extensive agricultural-biotech research in Western Canada; the proximity of Innovation Place, a research park with a proven track record of industrial participation and university/industry technology transfer; significant industrial, provincial, and local support; the presence of existing major facilities at the Saskatchewan Accelerator Laboratory; and relevant management experience.At its meeting in Saskatoon this weekend, the CISR endorsed the recommendation of the Committee that CLS be built at the University of Saskatchewan.
"The Committee recommends enthusiastically that funding be made available as soon as possible for the construction of CLS. The Committee was very impressed with the proposals", stated Dr. Alexander McAuley, chair of the Advisory Committee. "I was struck by the complementary strengths of the two groups. The Committee hopes these strengths can be combined in developing CLS".
The CISR proposal for CLS at the University of Saskatchewan will be presented to NSERC's Council. NSERC will then decide whether or not to endorse the proposal. If endorsed, NSERC will bring the CLS proposal forward to appropriate bodies for a funding decision.
For further information about CISR, visit their WebSite.