Today, Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced funding of $960,000 to help establish a smart mineral exploration and mining research centre within the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of British Columbia.
The federal investment will strengthen research and industry collaborations and help maintain Canada's global leadership in environmentally responsible mineral exploration and mining, and address pending industry and academic labour shortages.
"This investment in science and technology will help create the high-quality, knowledge intensive jobs that build a more globally competitive and productive British Columbia," said Mr. Warawa. "Our Government's support will assist UBC students, faculty and industry access the essential infrastructure needed to investigate sustainable mining and mineral resource exploration options."
The new Centre for Environmental Change and Planetary Stewardship will house three inter-related research facilities. These include: an Environmental Interface Laboratory to investigate and mitigate industrial impacts on the environment; a Visualization Facility to conduct three-dimensional modeling for mineral exploration and mining research; and a Field Support Facility to improve and enhance field-based mineral exploration research and training. Today's funding will allow the University to purchase and install computer hardware, software, scientific analytic instrumentation, and other required equipment for the three new facilities.
"We are extremely grateful to Western Economic Diversification for their investment in sustainable mineral exploration and mining research at UBC," said Don Brooks, UBC Associate Vice President Research. "The funding announced today will enable the Department to build on its strong partnerships with the minerals exploration community, and to expand our work in training the next generation of industry leaders."
The University of British Columbia is world renowned for its excellence in advanced research and learning, and has been consistently ranked among the world's top 40 universities. UBC offers more than 45,000 students a range of innovative undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in applied science, arts, science, medicine, law, commerce and other faculties. It is ranked within the top 10 North American universities for its commercialization activities.
Western Economic Diversification works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Howes
Communications Manager- British Columbia
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (604) 666-1318
Cell: (604) 505-6616
Brian Lin
Communications Co-ordinator
Public Affairs, University of British Columbia
Tel: 604.822.2234
Cell: 604.818.5685
E-mail: brian.lin@ubc.ca
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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