Research | Queen’s University Canada

Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Institute

Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Institute

The Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute is a national hub for astroparticle physics research, uniting researchers, theorists, and technical experts within one organization.

Queen’s University led 13 Canadian institutions in creating the centre’s predecessor organization in 2015. The McDonald Institute, officially launched in 2018, works to enhance Canada’s global leadership in the field, which includes dark matter and neutrino research.

The Canada First Research Excellence Fund awarded $63.7 million to the Institute in 2016.  It is using these funds to build on the legacy of Dr. Arthur McDonald’s 2015 Nobel Prize for work on neutrino physics at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. It is growing the pool of astroparticle physicists in Canada and supporting external collaborations that maximize scientific impact.

The McDonald Institute’s work reaches beyond the walls of academia. Technological advancements developed for astrophysics experiments provide opportunities to engage with Canadian industrial partners to realized downstream innovation and economic impact. Education and outreach resources and initiatives are also a priority for the McDonald Institute. Our goal is to make astroparticle physics accessible to everyone – inspiring the next generation of scientists and engaging Canadian society in our ground-breaking research.

  • Partnerships
  • Student Opportunities

Queen’s serves as the headquarters for the McDonald Institute, working with seven other universities (McGill, Carleton, Laurentian, Université de Montréal, University of Alberta, University of Toronto, and University of British Columbia) and with five research institutes and laboratories, (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, TRIUMF, the Institute of Particle Physics, the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and SNOLAB). This critical mass of Canadian cooperation supports the development of novel photo-detectors, trace elemental analyses, underground engineering and other contributions required for Canada to lead the next generation of fundamental astroparticle physics modeling, experimentation and analysis.

The McDonald Institute also works with international partners to facilitate knowledge transfer and innovation in astronomy, cosmology, foundational theoretical physics, and technology innovation.

The McDonald Institute immerses motivated students in a uniquely exciting and high-performance scientific culture. It creates training opportunities through linkages to academia, industry, and international exchanges that develop experimental and theoretical skills. The McDonald Institute already offers an undergraduate summer school, a graduate bootcamp, and many research assistantships.

The McDonald Institute also engages the general public in its research through its Visitor Centre based at Queen’s, regular public lectures, and workshops for high-school students and teachers.