A whirlwind tour of Washington D.C.

A whirlwind tour of Washington D.C.

Art McDonald inducted into National Academy, gives speech at Canadian Embassy.

By Chris Moffatt Armes

May 5, 2017

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It was another full week for Queen’s professor emeritus and Nobel Laureate Art McDonald, as he visited Washington DC for the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and delivered a presentation on the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) experiment at the Canadian Embassy.

Dr. McDonald signs the Book of Membership at the National Academy of Sciences annual meeting on April 29. (Photo Credit: National Academy of Sciences).

On Saturday, April 29, Dr. McDonald was formally inducted as a foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences at the Academy’s 154th annual meeting. Dr. McDonald was one of 20 fellow researchers from 14 countries to receive the honour. Of the 490 foreign associates, Dr. McDonald is one of only 20 living Canadian researchers with membership in the Academy – a group that includes Queen’s professor emeritus Raymond A. Price (Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering).

 “Having conducted my graduate work at Caltech, served as a professor at Princeton and collaborated extensively with U.S. scientists throughout my research career, I am honoured to have been elected to The National Academy of Sciences.” says Dr. McDonald. “At this important time in the dialogue on the importance of scientific research, I am proud to be granted membership in this highly respected group.”

Established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the National Academy of Science recognizes achievement in science and provides science, technology, and health policy advice to the US federal government and other organizations. Election to the Academy is widely considered one of the greatest achievements in science, and approximately 200 of its members have received Nobel prizes.

“Induction into the National Academy is amongst the highest honours that one can receive, and is a testament to the significance of Dr. McDonald’s research,” says Queen’s Principal Daniel Woolf. “This award is further recognition of the groundbreaking research conducted at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory by Dr. McDonald and his collaborators. On behalf of the entire university community, I would like to extend him my most sincere congratulations.”

From L-R: Nigel Smith, SNOLAB Director, Dr. Art McDonald, Science Minister Kirsty Duncan, Denis Stevens, Deputy Ambassador, John Fisher, Vice-Principal(Research).

Following the NAS annual meeting, on May 2, Dr. McDonald visited the Canadian Embassy in Washington. The theme of the evening focused on international research collaboration, particularly the US-Canada collaboration on the SNO experiment and at the SNOLAB underground laboratory. Dr. McDonald, along with Dr. John Fisher (Vice-Principal, Research) and Nigel Smith (SNOLAB) gave presentations on the past, present and future of international collaborations at SNOLAB and the value of international collaboration in leading-edge research. Science Minister Kirsty Duncan was also on hand to reiterate the government’s commitment to international collaboration in science.

Queen’s researchers and students are collaborating with colleagues around the world on innovative research projects that have the potential to bring about a wide variety of societal benefits. The university is committed to increasing global engagement by developing new international research collaborations and building sustained multinational partnerships. These activities foster an environment where resources and expertise can be shared and knowledge can be mobilized and translated.

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