Media Release - For Immediate Release

March 26 2010

Reaching for the Stars

ACEnet Systems Administrator Phil Romkey shows ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield how 3-D images can be created in the university's Data Cave in the Science Building. Dr. Bob Deupree, Canada Research Chair in Astronomy and Astrophysics looks on.

Dr. Robert Deupree, Director of the Institute For Computational Astrophysics at Saint Mary's University, will continue to reach for the stars - or at least study them - thanks to a $1.4 million investment by the federal government March 26.

Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, announced the continuation of funding for the University’s Research Chair in Astronomy and Astrophysics during a press conference in the Science building

“Our government is investing in science and technology to create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians’ quality of life,” said Minister Ashfield. “The Canada Research Chairs program is helping our universities develop and attract talented people, strengthening our capacity for leading-edge research, while creating jobs and economic opportunities for Canadians now and in the future.”

Dr.Deupree’s research involves developing better methods of calculating the structure and evolution of stars. His work enhances the ability to perform stellar evolution and structure simulations, leading to a greater understanding of how stars work.

This renewed Canada Research Chair is part of a total of $165.5 million in funding for 187 Canada Research Chairs newly awarded or renewed at 44 Canadian universities. Four other Chairs in Nova Scotia were also renewed. Those Chairs are located at Dalhousie, Saint Francis Xavier, NSCAD and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Total investment of the Chairs tops $4.3 million.

“This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Canada Research Chairs program,” said Chad Gaffield, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Head of the Canada Research Chairs program steering committee. “For the past decade, the program has been integral in funding research excellence in Canada by recruiting and retaining renowned international experts at Canadian universities. The program enables our universities to create the necessary environment for groundbreaking research and to offer first-class learning and training experiences to graduate students, thereby preparing them to become the next generation of world-class leaders in all sectors of society.”

Dr. J. Colin Dodds, President of St. Mary’s University, said that Dr. Deupree has done an extraordinary job as Director of the Institute for Computational Astrophysics and has helped to attract talented faculty that has assured the highest possible level of teaching and research.

“In the past five years, he has helped double the size of our graduate program in astronomy and astrophysics; while, year after year, our undergraduates are sought out by the most prestigious grad schools,” said Dr. Dodds. “Even for those who choose not to pursue a future in astrophysics, the skills that they learn are readily transferable into the knowledge economy.”

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For More Information:

Steve Proctor
External Affairs
Saint Mary's University
(902) 420.5513
E-mail: steve.proctor@smu.ca
www.smu.ca

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