Queen’s receives $63.7 million federal government investment

Prof. Tony Noble, Interim Director of Canadian Particle Astrophysics Research Centre (CPARC), speaks at Queen's University's Stirling Hall during the funding announcement on Tuesday. (University Communications)

Karina McInnis, Executive Director of University Research Services, who played a key role in preparing the CFREF proposal. (Photo: Prof. Stéphane Courteau)

Principal Daniel Woolf thanks the Government of Canada after it invested $63.7 million to support the creation of the Canadian Particle Astrophysics Research Centre (CPARC). (University Communications)

Undergraduate, Liz Fletcher speaking at the news conference.(Photo: Prof. Stéphane Courteau)

Queen's University has received $63.7 million in federal government investment from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). The fund supports the creation of the Canadian Particle Astrophysics Research Centre strengthen partnerships between Queen’s and other Canadian universities, attract top talent and build on Canada’s position as a leader in the field. The exciting announcement was made today by Dr. Tony Noble - Interim Director of Canadian Particle Astrophysics Research Centre (CPARC), Dr. Liss, Vice-Principal (Research), Dr. Woolf -Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and Gerretson-Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands at Queen's University's Stirling Hall, home of the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy.

The new centre will be headquartered at Queen’s, with members located at seven affiliated Canadian universities and five affiliated research organizations. To support the centre’s continuing and future research and experiments, 41 positions for researchers, engineers, designers and technicians will be created. In addition, positions for approximately 18 postdoctoral fellows and 40 graduate students will be created on an annual basis. Queen’s has already committed to adding seven new faculty members – including two Tier II Canada Research Chairs – in support of the centre and its research aims.

Through this initiative we will develop new particle astrophysics detectors capable of probing the highest priority questions in physics today while integrating students, fostering greater international collaboration, engaging industry and cementing Canada’s place as the global leader in the field. —Prof. Tony Knoble, Interim Director of CPARC

In 2014, Queen’s announced the appointment of Dr. Gilles Gerbier as the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Particle Astrophysics. Dr. Art McDonald’s co-receipt of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics, and the awarding of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, came in recognition of his leadership role in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) team – many of whom are now leaders on the CPARC initiative.

For more information and details, please read the Queen's Gazette article.