Research into salmon, clean drinking water, river ecosystems, and wireless networks at the University of British Columbia received a $2.2 million boost in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The funding comes from NSERC’s Strategic Project Grants, supporting scientific partnerships that will help strengthen Canada’s economy, society and environment. The three-year investment will support four UBC research projects led by Zoology Professor Colin Brauner, Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor Madjid Mohseni, Forest and Conservation Sciences Department Head John Richardson, and Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Vincent Wong.
“The Strategic Project Grants support important partnerships between UBC researchers and industry, government and organizations,” said John Hepburn, vice president, research and international at UBC. “NSERC’s continued support of these projects helps to strengthen science, industry, and policy in Canada.”
UBC’s four Strategic Project Grants were among 78 programs to receive funding totalling $38 million, announced today by the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology) in New Brunswick.
More information about NSERC’s Strategic Project Grants is available here.
Background
Recipients of NSERC’s Strategic Project Grants at UBC:
Colin Brauner, professor of Zoology
Optimal rearing conditions for salmon growth in recirculating aquaculture systems – $605,252
The goal of this project is to determine the optimal environmental conditions for rearing Atlantic and coho salmon in recirculating aquaculture systems, along with industry and provincial government partners.
Madjid Mohseni, professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
JST – Innovative UV technologies for the removal of emerging contaminants and sustainable water supplies in small communities – $494,500
This project will address issues and challenges facing the delivery of clean drinking water to small and rural communities in Japan and Canada.
John Richardson, professor and head of Forest and Conservation Sciences
Cumulative effects in a riverscape across scales: thresholds of disturbance in ecosystem integrity – $581,680
Along with partners in Ontario, this project aims to understand the impact of agriculture, forestry, and urbanization on small tributary streams, the ecosystem and downstream impacts.
Vincent Wong, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Technologies for 5G Wireless Systems: Software-defined Networks, massive MMO, and full Duplexing – $533,500
Wong and his team will work with industry partners to advance the technology for future mobile devices and fifth generation wireless cellular systems to meet the demand for data and other applications.