Canadian scientists talk opportunities for cooperation with the European Spallation Source.
“We put together a delegation of scientists that represent a wide range of priority science research areas for Canada, including energy, health, advanced manufacturing, and quantum materials,” says Harroun. “We also shared with ESS our initiative to establish a new national program for materials research using neutron beams ahead of the imminent closure of the NRU [National Research Universal] reactor in Chalk River, Ontario.”
The meetings at ESS have brought some clarity to this initiative, according to John Root, Director of the Canadian Neutron Beam Centre and Executive Director of the Sylvia Fedoruk Centre for Nuclear Innovation:
“Before coming to Lund, we knew only about our urgent need to establish a new framework for stewardship of Canada’s program for materials research with neutron beams. In Lund, we met a community who opened several doors for us to refine our own vision for this stewardship. We can imagine participating in this visionary international endeavour, both now, in building it, and in the future, through access to the world-class facility. Participation in ESS could present Canadians with unique opportunities for impact at the leading edge of science and technology in coming decades, and would reap many benefits for society in health, clean energy, security and our environment.”