Queen’s professors involved in research areas such as environmental sciences, life sciences and engineering are receiving over $2.1M through the Discovery Grants program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). In addition, $1.74M was awarded to researchers working on three subatomic physics grants projects.

“These awards reflect the continued breadth, depth and excellence of the research being conducted at Queen’s,” says Vice-Principal (Research) Kerry Rowe.

Seventy-three per cent of the Queen’s applications submitted were accepted this year, compared to 58 per cent nationwide, and the average grant size at Queen’s was $35,021, compared to $33,129 nationally (not including the three subatomic physics grants projects).

“The Discovery Grants Program has a well-deserved international reputation for supporting excellence in research, and our scholarships programs help produce the next generation of research leaders,” says NSERC President Suzanne Fortier. “These programs give scientists and engineers a flexible way to pursue long-term projects in promising new avenues of science and engineering. They are key tools for unleashing the creative power of our most innovative students and researchers.”

NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators to the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 28,000 students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11,800 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.