Canada's first Neutron Reflectometer Officially Open

On June 15th the NRC Canadian Neutron Beam Centre welcomed of a group of distinguished guests into the laboratory for ribbon cutting ceremony that marked the official opening of the new neutron reflectometer.

Representing the Minister of Industry, Cheryl Gallant MP spoke of the importance of research into advanced materials, and the impact of such research on Canada's society and economy.

The guests included representatives from federal and provincial science and funding agencies, elected officials from federal, provincial and municipal government, as well as university vice presidents and scientists. They represented the broad scientific community that will benefit from this unique research tool, and the partnership that enabled it to be built.

Cheryl Gallant MP (centre) and Shaun Cotnam Director of Communications at AECL (centre-left) at the NRU reactor.

Representing the Minister of Industry, Cheryl Gallant MP highlighted the importance of materials research and its direct impact on national competitiveness. "Whether we are trying to understand the mechanisms of disease, improving medical treatments, developing better cars or faster electronics: knowledge of materials is the vital first step."

The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by a large group of guests, pictured here in front of the reflectometer.

The University of Western Ontario led a proposal to fund the construction of the reflectometer, which was supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, the Ontario Innovation Trust and the National Research Council. The President of NRC, Dr. Pierre Coulombe spoke of how the reflectometer is now accessible for researchers across Canada. "NRC's mission here, is one of stewardship of an important scientific resource for Canada. That mission has benefits for professors and students from Canadian universities in every province, and connects scientific communities here with their counterparts around the world."

Shown here cutting the ribbon (left to right) Patrick Pilot (CFI),John Yakabuski MPP, Brian McGee (VP AECL), Cheryl Gallant MP, Pierre Coulombe (President NRC), Ted Hewitt (VP UWO)

After the ceremonies the guests were given a tour around the main floor of the NRU reactor. At each of the spectrometers operated by the NRC Canadian Neutron Beam Centre they saw examples of materials research making a difference in Canada today. On one spectrometer neutrons were examining the tough outer skin that enables some bacteria to become drug-resistant. On another spectrometer neutrons were measuring the strength of an industrial component.

The two scientists from the University of Western Ontario who led the proposal to fund the reflectometer are shown here standing in front of the instrument after the ceremony. Dave Shoesmith (left) and Jamie Noël (right)

The neutron reflectometer has now joined the other spectrometers in the user program at the NRC Canadian Neutron Beam Centre. Scientists from university, industry or government labs can apply for time on the instrument for projects on thin films, surfaces and nanolayered materials.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony the guests were treated to a tour of the facilities at the NRC Canadian Neutron Beam Centre. Here Helmut Fritzsche is seen explaining the basics of reflectometry to some of the guests

The president of NRC, Dr Pierre Coulombe, spoke of the importance of neutrons as a probe of materials, and highlighted NRC's role as the stewards of this unique national science facility.

Ted Hewitt the Vice President of rResearch from the University of Western Ontario, acted as master of ceremonies for the event to open the reflectometer that Western had championed.

Ken Knox the president of the Ontario Innovation Trust, was quick to identify the partnership that had made this project happen, and how withe'd federal, provincial and local support, a unique scientific tool had been put in place which could benefit a wide Canadian scientific community.

Brian McGee the vice president of AECL's Chalk River Laboratories, welcomed the guests to the Chalk River campus. AECL owns and operates the NRU reactor, the national science facility which provides the neutrons for the NRC Canadian Neutron Beam Centre.

Pictured here after the ribbon cutting are vice presidents from four of the twelve universities that supported the proposal to build a neutron reflectometer (Western, Toronto, BC, Guelph.).