DOWNPAYMENT ON DISCOVERY
University research gets big boost
It was a boom for science and groundbreaking research across Canada on Tuesday, thanks to the federal government announcing it will hand out $558 million this year for “discovery” efforts undertaken primarily by university professors and graduate students. “One of the best investments we can make is in research,” said Kirsty Duncan, federal minister of science and sport who made the announcement at the University of Windsor, where she once taught as a professor in the early days of her career before entering politics. “For every dollar we have invested, it is about a 20 per cent return,” she said. “When you are talking about discovery research, this is about how we all want better environment, health treatments and new technologies. Discovery research leads to new innovation, then to new products or services and economic growth. Today is a good day for research in Canada.” The discovery research funds being handed out by the federal government — the largest-ever annual amount awarded — will occur in April and help support 4,300 ongoing research projects across the country.
Overall, Canada is spending roughly $4 billion on research and innovation in this year’s budget. Under the announcement by Duncan, University of Windsor staff and students this year, through the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) program, are receiving $6 million to be split among 30 projects. Chemistry professor Michael Siu, vice-president for research and innovation at the university, described Duncan’s announcement as a “fantastic day” for both research across Canada and the local university.
“The (discovery) grants are really the foundation for research activities whether you are a scientist or engineer,” he said. “The money helps allow you to do what really a university is here for. Research is a significant part of what we do — and without funding there is no research.”
Locally, the projects approved for discovery research funding include self-driving vehicles, improving brain health, artificial intelligence applications, and even studying forensic interaction of flies on a body post-mortem. “We look at the interactions between flies as they arrive on a body,” said Sherah VanLaerhoven, a biology professor who for 15 years studied insect behaviour that helps in forensic investigations, as well as greenhouse applications with biological control.
“We study how they lay eggs and life cycle, but what we don’t know is how they interact and what changes (to a body) that might create. Also, how they react to humidity, temperature or environment.” Her graduate students were among a number of groups highlighting about 20 exhibits of ongoing research at the University of Windsor on display Tuesday at Assumption Hall. Duncan took the time to learn more about the various research projects during her visit.
“Today is an incredible opportunity to recognize researchers,” she said. “Thank you for the work you do each and every day.”