Dec. 3, 1998 * Vol . 13, No. 7

Eight more researchers awarded innovation grants

Eight SFU researchers are the latest to benefit from the Canadian Funds for Innovation (CFI), including two -- chemist Ross Hill and Colombo Bolognesi, who work jointly in physics and engineering science -- who will each receive more than $350,000 toward their research.

The grants are from the CFI's institutional innovation fund and regional/national facilities competitions. The exact amounts to be awarded will be made known in coming weeks. Earlier this summer, six recently arrived SFU professors won a total of more than $1.5 million for cutting-edge research under the CFI's new opportunities program.

Among the latest recipients, Hill will use the funds to purchase an x-ray defractometer, a device that will allow researchers to characterize new materials, covering a range of properties, from aspects vital to water purification to those critical to the electronics industry. The equipment is specially designed to allow for a wide range of materials to be examined.

Bolognesi (above) says funding will enable the continued operation of a world-class compound semi­conductor device research laboratory, dedicated to the development of advanced devices and materials with applications in future high-speed communication systems.

The following researchers will receive grants under $350,000:

• Ron Roesch, psychology, for funding of a forensic mental health research and training network at SFU's mental health, law and policy institute. Computer equipment will enable national and international collaborative research projects on a variety of forensic topics, and provide for the development of interactive and web-based courses;
  
• Gloria Gutman, to support the gerontology research centre's Dr. Tong Louie Living Laboratory, a joint project with BCIT, designed to promote independent living and quality of life for disabled and elderly populations;
  
• Marek Syrzycki, engineering science, for a project on micro-electro mechanical systems (or MEMS). MEMS are the core technologies enabling the development of mechanical, chemical, biomedical and optical 'smart systems' that will lead the information revolution into the new century. A research and manufacturing facility for miniature sensors and actuators is planned;
  
• Glenn Chapman, engineering science, for an ultra-violet laser micromachining system, to be used for biomedical and microelectronic applications;
  
• Mario Pinto, chemistry, for the purchase of a microcalorimeter for SFU's chemistry and structural biology unit (CSBU). The instrument will be used to measure the thermodymanics of binding protein receptors, such as antibodies and enzymes, with their complementary partners or 'ligands.' The data will assist in the design of tighter binders, for use as therapeutics or in vaccine preparations;
  
• Jonathan Borwein, mathematics, to support PolyLAB, a high performance networking initiative involving the centre for experimental and constructive mathematics (CECM) and the telematics laboratory. The award will provide high-speed connectivity, software and other essential peripherals for a large contribution of equipment the lab earlier received from Sun Microsystems. The infrastructure is critical to the projects PolyLAB supports, such as emergency preparedness information networks and various telelearning systems.

A second proposal by Borwein -- for a high performance computing facility at SFU -- has been invited to the next stage of funding competition.

CFI received nearly 300 proposals for institutional innovation funding over $350,000 and so far has approved 16 applications, totalling $8.1 million. In addition, CFI will invest $7.8 million in 67 infrastructure projects at 26 institutions.

Bruce Clayman, vice-president, research, says SFU did very well, especially considering half of the projects to receive grants are in the health field (49 per cent). Twenty-seven per cent are in science, 15 per cent, in engineering and nine per cent in environment.

Clayman says the grants constitute clear recognition of the high levels of quality and relevance that characterize SFU's research activities. He expects additional support for some of these projects to come from the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund.

CFI was established by the federal government to encourage the country's national research initiatives. The foundation provides about 40 per cent of the infrastructure money for projects. The rest of the funding comes from a variety of sources, including industry and universities.

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