Federal Government Expands Research Capacity At UNBC
April 3, 2002 For Immediate Release
New investments from the Government of Canada are significantly expanding opportunities to conduct research at UNBC, in areas related to enhancing our understanding of northern communities and environmental issues. The total investment exceeds $1.4 million.
New investments from the Government of Canada are significantly expanding opportunities to conduct research at UNBC, in areas related to enhancing our understanding of northern communities and environmental issues. The total investment exceeds $1.4 million.
1. The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is providing $323,000
to help acquire equipment that will be used both to document the history
of northern communities and to predict their social, economic, and political
futures. The Social Science Research Lab will allow researchers to apply
multimedia to community research in unique ways, making research more
accessible to local residents. The proposal still requires matching
funding from the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund.
2. Federal granting agencies are supporting a number of new, multi-year
research projects at the University. The Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council is supporting research on windflows and air pollution,
chemical processes, the genetics of aquatic vertebrates, backcountry
recreation impacts, and organic soil compounds. The Social Sciences
and Humanities Research Council is funding research on gender and political
participation in the Russian North, comparative models of self-government,
and the early maps and writings of a Hudson's Bay Company employee.
The Canadian Institutes for Health Research is investing in a rural
and remote health study involving Nursing professor Martha Macleod.
The total value of this new research is about $600,000.
3. The Government of Canada is providing universities with one-time
funding to help offset the costs of conducting ground-breaking research.
The contribution to UNBC is nearly $520,000.
"We recognize the University of Northern British Columbia's important
role as an agent of economic diversification and social development
in central and northern BC," says Allan Rock, Minister of Industry.
"These investments will assist UNBC with its important mandate."
"Research is vitally important as a tool for economic diversification
and expansion," says Max Blouw, Vice-President for Research at
UNBC. "Being on the cutting edge of research, however, is expensive
and these Government of Canada investments are key if UNBC is to be
able to continue directing attention to the crucial research needs of
communities."
