Lakehead University’s BRI Receives Funding
Dr. Lew Christopher, BRI Director
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON
A Lakehead University researcher is receiving funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for his biorefining project.
Dr. Lew Christopher, Director of Lakehead’s Biorefining Research Institute, is receiving $59,539 for his work into enabling advanced, high-quality research in Forest Biorefining.
In a forest-based biorefining system, trees are harvested to produce high-value primary products (e.g. lumber, pulp, paper) and residues are used to create a range of value-added co-products.
“By developing new, cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies for value-added products from forest biomass, we will be able to replace oil-based materials with sustainable biomass-based alternatives,” said Dr. Christopher.
“We will also enhance the international competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector.”
Dr. Christopher will use the funding to purchase three pieces of state of the art equipment that will advance his research into the production of value-added chemicals, materials and bioenergy created through the Forest Biorefinery.
With global competition, unstable oil and energy prices, concerns about global warming and incentives for green fuels and chemicals, the Canadian forest sector needs to implement the Biorefinery Concept in order to create additional revenues and remain competitive, Dr. Christopher said.
“This project will position Lakehead University as a leader for research excellence in biorefining,” said Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation.
“It will result in high-quality research, data, reports, publications and presentations at national and international forums, attracting top researchers in the field,” Dr. Dean added.
This funding was announced on Monday, March 14 by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, with more than $23 million supporting 95 projects at universities across Canada.
“Investments in Canada’s research infrastructure are incredibly important to the nation’s future,” said Minister Duncan. “They give Canadian researchers the tools they need to make new discoveries that will better the lives of Canadians today and for years to come.”
The investment was made through the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund, designed to help universities attract and retain the best and brightest researchers from around the world by giving them access to cutting-edge research tools.
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Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.
Maclean’s 2016 University Rankings place Lakehead University second in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and first among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2015, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities.
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