More than 100 UM researchers receive Discovery Grant funding
More than $5 million in project funding was announced today in support of 115 UM researchers through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The announcement was made at the University of Alberta by the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.
“These projects—from reimagining teacher education with Indigenous wisdom traditions to creating equity in mental health care to researching the impacts of space radiation and weather on Earth’s climate—will help transform today’s ideas into tomorrow’s solutions,” Boissonnault said.
The Discovery Grants Program supports research with long-term goals. It includes supplemental funding for Northern research, tools and instruments, COVID extensions, and ship time for projects requiring the use of an ocean-going vessel. Recognizing the creativity at the heart of all research advances, these funds promote flexibility to pursue emerging higher-risk research avenues as they appear.
Additional NSERC funding in this announcement also includes Subatomic Physics Project Grants for two UM researchers, and a long-term Discovery Horizons Grant. This five-year project will support community-led monitoring of hydro-related impacts on northern environments, cultural keystone indicators and human well-being, using both Indigenous and Western science.
“I congratulate these researchers and their teams on their success in receiving these highly competitive grants,” said UM Vice-President (Research and International) Dr. Mario Pinto. “These grants are an investment in fundamental research to test new ideas and grow our knowledge in diverse subjects that impact us all, from the science of climate change to improved medical treatments. To have so many successful applicants announced today is a testament to the research excellence at UM.”