Two new Canada Research Chairs were awarded to Memorial University at an announcement made by Prime Minister Paul Martin Nov. 12 at the British Columbia Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health in Vancouver. Dr. Duncan McIlroy was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Petroleum Geoscience/ Geotechnology and Dr. Qiying Chen was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Photonics.

"We're proud that the funding announced today will support research by Canada's leading scholarly and scientific minds," said Prime Minister Martin. "From health care, to the environment, to building stronger communities, the work of these Canada Research Chairs will have a direct impact on the lives of Canadians and help position Canada as a world leader in the 21st century economy."

Dr. Christopher Loomis, vice-president (research) welcomed the addition of the two new Chairs to Memorial

“The Chairs Program has and continues to enable our institution to achieve the highest levels of research excellence, further enabling our efforts to make Memorial a more research-intensive university,” said Dr. Loomis. "Not only have we been able to attract and retain excellent researchers, but our students will be able to work alongside the best and the brightest researchers in their fields.”

Dr. McIlroy's research will lead to a more complete understanding of the role of organisms in controlling the porosity and permeability of sandstone reservoir intervals. He will also explore the development of fuel and energy technology. Dr. McIlroy comes to Canada from the United Kingdom.

Dr. Chen's research involves the development of novel applications in information technology and biophotonics and the development of ultrafast nano-photonics with ultrafast technology and nanotechnology.

The Canada Research Chairs program was established by the Government of Canada to enable Canadian universities to achieve the highest levels of research excellence. In its 2000 budget, the federal government provided $900 million to support the establishment of 2000 Canada Research Chairs in universities across the country by 2003-4. The program is designed to enable Canadian universities to create outstanding research opportunities that will attract researchers with international reputations. Memorial is currently searching for ten more Canada Research Chairs positions. For more information on the Canada Research Chair Program, please consult the web site at www.chairs.gc.ca.