$2.5M for research

Photo: UBCO

Twelve researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus will benefit from millions of dollars in federal research grants.

Biologists, engineers, statisticians, chemists and a number of grad students have been granted a total of $2.5 million from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

The awards are part of $465 million handed out Thursday, mostly for research discovery programs.

“We are very pleased with the success of our faculty in this latest round of funding,” said Phil Barker, vice-principal of research at UBCO. “This reflects outstanding work from our researchers and the strong upward trajectory of research on this campus."

The UBCO researchers come from both the School of Engineering and the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.

As well, Kyle Larson, an assistant professor who teaches Earth and Environmental Sciences and Physical Geography, was awarded a prestigious three-year Discovery Accelerator grant, which will assist in his structural geological research focused on plate tectonics.

Canada Graduate scholarships totaling more than $733,000 were also handed out.

The Discovery grants support ongoing research projects with long-term goals, said research council president B. Mario Pinto.

“Discoveries build the necessary foundation for an innovative, prosperous and sustainable society,” said Pinto. “A diversified and high-quality research base requires us to provide equality of opportunity across gender and culture. Bringing together multiple points of view strengthens our science, technology and innovation ecosystem and extends its many benefits more equally.”