The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has awarded St. Francis Xavier University $47,346 to support a cutting-edge research infrastructure project led by earth sciences professor Dr. David Risk.
Dr. Risk will use the funding for infrastructure to develop innovative theories, computer models, and instruments for the measurement of gas emission from soils.
Despite being world leaders in developing greenhouse gas measurement and monitoring theory, Dr. Risk and his environmental sciences lab group at StFX have not had the ability to translate their expertise into practice. This funding will allow this growing and internationally-recognized research group to acquire new capabilities to undertake ultra-sensitive greenhouse gas measurements.
“The research will be carried out in forests and natural landscapes of Nova Scotia, to help understand how these natural systems absorb, and release, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) under a changing climate,” Dr. Risk says.
He says this research has several potential implications for Nova Scotia, including improved strategies for compliance with international post-Kyoto agreements; development of improved tools for landowners to enhance carbon storage of lands; improved strategies for leak detection at carbon capture and storage sites currently under development; new spin-out technologies; and training of highly skilled personnel to enhance and diversify Nova Scotia's economic base.
In welcoming the CFI’s investment, Dr. Risk praised them for supporting research.
“In our group, CFI has provided important and timely contributions to seed projects, which have grown into great successes, and I certainly hope that this work will follow the same pattern.”
The funding comes as part of a total of $59,483,432 in new funds the CFI announced Dec. 16 to support 263 projects at 40 institutions across Canada. The investment was approved by the CFI’s Board of Directors in November 17, 2009, following a rigorous merit-review process.
“The investments being announced today at StFX will further enhance our country’s reputation as a destination of choice for outstanding researchers,” said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the CFI. “They will make our universities even more competitive when it comes to attracting the best and brightest researchers from around the world.”
A total of $45,756,486 was awarded under the Leaders Opportunity Fund, which provides infrastructure support to Canadian institutions so they can attract and retain the very best of today and tomorrow’s leading researchers at a time of intense international competition for knowledge workers. The remaining $13,726,946 was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, a complementary program that assists research institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with new infrastructure projects.
For a complete list of the projects awarded, please visit www.innovation.ca.