New $2.5 Million Research Chair to Benefit the Nuclear Industry

“Nuclear power currently supplies 14 per cent of Canada’s electricity needs, primarily from reactors designed and built over 20 years ago,” said Minister Volpe. “By seeking to understand the role of alloys in corrosion, this Chair will provide the nuclear industry with the knowledge necessary to refurbish and upgrade its facilities in order to allow for another 20 years of operation.”

“The Chair program undertaken by Dr. Roger Newman and his team will contribute to the development of expertise in the area of advanced materials at the University of Toronto,” added Minister Emerson. “By building these foundations in basic science and technology, we are strengthening our ability to generate and apply new ideas.”

The funding is provided through a program of Science and Engineering Research Canada (also known by its acronym NSERC) that promotes research partnerships between the private sector and universities. The University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) will contribute an additional $922,000 in cash and $542,000 in-kind over five years.

“We are looking forward to Dr. Newman and his research team collaborating with our industry members in researching and analyzing mechanisms of materials degradation in high temperature water,” said R. Mohan Mathur, President and CEO of UNENE. “Dr. Newman brings world class expertise to Canada. In addition to the significant cash contribution, our industry members will also be providing equipment for Dr. Newman's research.”

“Nuclear power plays an important role in providing much of the electricity needed to power Ontario’s economy,” said Pierre Charlebois, Acting Chief Nuclear Officer, Ontario Power Generation (OPG). OPG is one of six industrial partners that form the UNENE consortium. “Ontario’s nuclear industries support the need to continually improve the knowledge of nuclear science. The scope of work being considered within this new Chair will help encourage the interest and expertise that will be needed to steer this industry for the long term.”

Professor Anastasios Venetsanopoulos, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto said, “Thanks to the funding we have received from NSERC and UNENE, we have recruited Dr. Roger Newman, a leading scholar with an international reputation for research excellence to our faculty.” Until recently, Dr. Newman was a professor at the Corrosion and Protection Centre of the University of Manchester Institute for Science and Technology. He is experienced in corrosion related to nuclear materials and has collaborated with British, Canadian and U.S. nuclear industries.

Said Dr. Newman, “The NSERC/UNENE Industrial Research Chair at the University of Toronto provides me with an exciting opportunity to participate in the resurgence of education and research in nuclear engineering in Canada. With respect to my field of corrosion and materials, there are both immediate challenges and long-term prospects to enhance safety and reliability in nuclear power and waste management systems.”

“In supporting this Chair, NSERC is recognizing his exceptional track record and Dr. Newman’s international reputation,” said Dr. Tom Brzustowski, President of NSERC. “It is very important that a scholar of such high quality should be leading this essential research project.”

UNENE is an alliance of universities, nuclear power utilities, research and regulatory agencies dedicated to supporting and developing nuclear education, research and development capability in Canadian universities. Its main purpose is to assure a sustainable supply of qualified nuclear engineers and scientists to meet the current and future needs of the Canadian nuclear industry through university education, university-based training and encouraging young people to choose careers in the nuclear field.

Science and Engineering Research Canada (also known by its legal name “Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada” as well as the acronym NSERC) is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation. It supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among postsecondary institutions, government and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

For further information, please contact:

Suzanne Godbout
Communications
NSERC
Tel.: (613) 943-0310

Stéphanie Leblanc
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
Tel.: (613) 995-9001

Stephen Heckbert
Office of the Honourable Joe Volpe
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Tel.: (613) 992-2482