New $2.5M research chair to benefit the nuclear industry

Ottawa, ON – The federal government says it is providing $1,019,000 over five years for the NSERC/UNENE industrial research chair in nano-engineering of alloys for nuclear power systems at the University of Toronto. The chair will examine the capabilities of materials that are critical to extending the life of nuclear power plants.

“We have recruited Dr Roger Newman, a leading scholar with an international reputation for research excellence to our faculty,” says Dr Anastasios Venetsanopoulos, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto.

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 US nuclear industries.

The funding is provided through a program of Science and Engineering Research Canada (also known as 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 analysing mechanisms of materials degradation in high temperature water,” says 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.”