(October 19, 2011, Ottawa, Ontario) - NRC scientists Geoffrey Sunahara and Jalal Hawari were recognized by The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) Achievement Awards for developing decision-making tools that assess the exposure risks of international defence training installations.
Sunahara and Hawari worked with other specialists from TTCP member nations to collect environmental data on accumulated residues from explosives, propellants and other potentially toxic artefacts found at military training sites. The information was used to calculate environmental tolerance values. Results were made available to TTCP member nations, which include: Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, through publication of a book titled: "Ecotoxicology of Explosives".
Dr. Geoffrey Sunahara receiving his award from the hands of Dr. Marc Fortin, Assistant Deputy Minister (Science and Technology), Department of National Defence, and Chief Executive Officer, DRDC
"I am proud to see NRC scientists acknowledged by Canada's international allies for excellence in environmental and defence research," said NRC Vice-President of Life Sciences, Dr. Roman Szumski.
Dr. Jalal Hawari (not present at the ceremony)
The award highlights the significance of NRC's collaboration across scientific, national and international communities. Winners were selected based upon the criteria of excellence, relevance, and productivity.
The awards ceremony, hosted by the Department of National Defence Canada, recognized Government of Canada researchers and scientists from the NRC, Defence Research and Development Canada and the Royal Military College of Canada.
The Technical Cooperation Program enables Canada to expand its defence knowledge and expertise through scientific collaboration with its allies. More than 3,000 research and development specialists have created international partnerships as a result of the program.
NRC began collaborating with the Department of National Defence Canada and Defence Research and Development Canada in 1993 and has since worked with several national and international agencies including The Technical Cooperation Program.
