Two U of G Research Chairs Renewed

April 28, 2006 - News Release

The University of Guelph today honoured two professors who have had their Canada Research Chair (CRC) funding renewed for another five years.

Rob De Loë of the Department of Geography and Alejandro Marangoni of the Department of Food Science have been Tier 2 CRCs since 2001. Industry Canada announced today that the University of Guelph will receive $100,000 a year for the next five years for each of these two Canada Research Chairs.

De Loë, a Chair in Rural Water Management, focuses on rural water quality and watershed management. Marangoni, a Chair in Food and Soft Materials, is attempting to develop a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the static structure of various soft food materials.

"Both Alejandro and Rob have excelled over the past five years and it is fitting recognition by the Canada Research Chairs program that they continue to meet the national standards of excellence defined by that program," said Alan Wildeman, vice-president (research).

Tier 1 chairs are acknowledged as international leaders in their fields and are awarded $200,000 a year for seven years. Tier 2 chairs are considered to have the potential to become world leaders in their fields and receive $100,000 a year for five years. U of G currently has 24 chairs and expects to eventually have 35.

Ottawa established the CRC program in 2000 to help attract and retain excellent faculty.
"The important investments made in university research have re-energized our campuses and given the country's top researchers ─ our Canada Research Chairs ─ the support they need to fully realize their innovative ideas," said Industry Minister Maxime Bernier, who is responsible for the CRC program.

The organization is governed by a steering committee made up of the presidents of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, CFI, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, as well as the deputy minister of Industry Canada.

For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, Ext. 56982.

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