The University of Guelph can rejoice in a new Canada Research Chair (CRC) according to its Dec. 2, 2016 news release,
The University of Guelph will receive $1.5 million through a new Canada Research Chair (CRC) and the renewal of two others. Kirsty Duncan, federal minister of science, made the announcement today in Toronto.
In all, there are 203 new and renewed chairs at 48 institutions across Canada, an investment of $173 million.
Guelph received a new Tier 2 chair in Food Nanotechnology to be held by Prof. Michael Rogers, Department of Food Science. Tier 2 chairs held by Prof. Nina Jones, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Carla Rice, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, were renewed.
Tier 2 chairs are for potential world leaders in their fields and are worth $100,000 a year for five years.
“All three chairholders awarded today are outstanding scholars and leaders in their respective disciplines,” said Malcolm Campbell, vice-president (research).
“Covering expertise in food nanotechnology to disease treatment to inclusiveness, well-being and equity, these three chairs represent the exceptional and diverse creative capacity that distinguishes our campus. They also epitomise a focal point of our research here at University of Guelph: improve life.”
Rogers said U of G, known as Canada’s Food University, is “the perfect home” for his new CRC in Food Nanotechnology, as it supports fundamental research that drives innovation within Canada’s food industry.
He studies technologies that may improve safety and nutritional and functional qualities of processed foods that are now a mainstay in western diets.
“There is no greater societal importance then the effect diet is having on the global population,” said Rogers, a Guelph graduate. He said that, for the first time in human history, non-communicable diseases often related to diet cause a larger percentage of deaths than communicable diseases worldwide.
“This has led global health leaders to shift attention from ‘germs’ to what United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls ‘a public health emergency in slow motion.”
…
When people have expressed concern about nanotechnology, it’s often about food. Given that there have been virtually no public engagement or public awareness campaigns in Canada regarding nanotechnology, I watch developments in the area of Canadian food nanotechnology with some interest.