Dark matter research gets major funding boost

A project aimed at discovering the nature of the universe has received $18 million in Ontario government funding.

The funding will go to astrophysics professor and lead researcher Anthony Noble, Canada Research Chair in Particle Astrophysics, to fund ongoing research in SNOLAB, the world's deepest underground laboratory near Sudbury.

"I am extremely delighted by the success of this terrific projectn, says Vice Principal (Research) Kerry Rowe. "We sincerely thank the Ontario government for the financial support from the Ontario Research Fund that recognizes research excellence.

This funding will allow Queen's to move to a new level of cutting-edge research in astroparticle physics by supporting direct and indirect operational costs."

The funding will go to astrophysics professor and lead researcher Anthony Noble, Canada Research Chair in Particle Astrophysics, to fund ongoing research in SNOLAB, the world's deepest underground laboratory near Sudbury.

By helping researchers gain knowledge about the fundamental properties of matter and possibly identifying a whole new class of matter, the project will increase their understanding of the structure and formation of the universe.

Administered by Carleton University, the SNOLAB collaboration includes Queen's, Laurentian, UBC, the University of Guelph, the Universite de Montreal, and a number of international partners.

This second round of funding under the Research Excellence program will invest $114,709,614 to support 19 world-class projects at nine Ontario universities, institutes and hospitals. Funding will be matched by 107 major industry and other partners participating in the projects.

"Today's investment is part of our government's strategy to fuel research and innovation that will ensure long-term prosperity for all Ontarians," says Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson. "We are building on one of Ontario's biggest strengths, our world-class researchers, to create the high-value jobs of the future - jobs that have not even been invented yet."

Source: Queens University