Research funding for Algoma U announced

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA UNIVERSITY

************************* New money for biology research at Algoma University SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (April 27, 2010) - The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced Friday that it will be awarding $100,000 towards research initiatives in the growing biology department at Algoma University.

This award is part of over $27 million in awards for 118 projects that the CFI is funding across the country.

The funding has been awarded to faculty members Dr. Brandon Schamp and Dr. Pedro Antunes, and will be put towards the purchase of two state-of-the-art plant growth chambers with a total of over 26 m2 of growing space, to conduct NSERC funded research in the fields of plant and soil biology.

This funding is awarded under the CFI's Leaders Opportunity Fund grant program, which is designed to help universities attract and retain high quality faculty.

The new growth chambers will be located in Algoma's new Biosciences and Technology Convergence Centre [shown under consttuction], which will open in March of 2011. "The CFI is proud to support the innovative researchers of this nation to tackle today's pressing research challenges," said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, president and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). "By investing in their work, we are ensuring that Canada remains competitive in the global knowledge economy." The LOF supports Canada's quickly evolving research environment by giving Canadian universities the flexibility they need to attract and retain the world's finest researchers at a time of intense international competition. "This news tops a growing list of great things that are happening in the biology program here at Algoma," says Dr. Schamp. "We're really excited about these growth chambers, which will increase the ability of students to work alongside faculty to conduct ground-breaking research experiments. These new growth chambers will directly support the goals we've laid out in the newly proposed four-year biology program here at Algoma, which emphasizes active student participation in biological research." The infrastructure will directly support faculty research laboratories, and represents a pivotal increase in research infrastructure at Algoma University.

The university has applied for accreditation for a four-year Honours B.Sc. in biology degree program and is committed to the eventual development of a M.Sc. program.

The requested growth chambers are seen as instrumental in providing both research space and research-related training opportunities in the biological sciences.

The proposed expansion of the biology program includes faculty hires, as well as the advent of a fourth-year biology thesis research course.

About Algoma University

Algoma University offers a wide variety of liberal arts and sciences degree options including programs in psychology, computer science, business administration, fine arts, community economic & social development and biology.

As the Canadian home of the internationally recognized M.Sc. CGT from the University of Abertay Dundee, Algoma University is at the forefront of computer games technology education.

Algoma University also offers accelerated second degree programs in business administration and computer science on its Brampton Campus.

As a partner with Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, Algoma U is committed to respecting Anishinaabe knowledge and culture.

To learn more about Algoma University, visit here. *************************