Science fiction writer named resident at Canadian Light Source

Saskatoon, SK – International award-winning science fiction author Robert J Sawyer will be writer-in-residence at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron from June 1 to July 31, 2009. Sawyer, widely regarded as one of Canada’s most influential authors and most successful science fiction writers, will use the residency to explore the creative processes at the root of science and art, and increase public discussion of science in Canada.

“Imagination is at the heart of both artistic and scientific endeavours,” he says. “And the science being done in Canada is world-class. The opportunity to immerse myself for two months at one of Canada’s – and the world’s – top scientific institutions will enormously enrich my writing, and I hope my presence will stimulate the imaginations of people at the Canadian Light Source and in the surrounding community.”

“This is an amazing opportunity, not only for the staff and national research community of the Canadian Light Source, but also the literary community,” says Jeff Cutler, director of industrial science at the Canadian Light Source. “A common thread in Rob’s work – the role that science plays in our humanity and how we understand the universe – is echoed in our focus on discovery, innovation and progress.”

Sawyer is the author of 20 science fiction novels, which have been published in 15 languages. He is one of only seven authors – and the only Canadian – to win all three of the world’s top science fiction awards: the Hugo Award (2003) for the novel Hominids, the Nebula Award (1996) for The Terminal Experiment and the John W Campbell Memorial Award (2006) for Mindscan. Several of his stories are set at Canadian science facilities, such as TRIUMF, SNOLab, and the Royal Ontario Museum.