Grant: Canada First Research Excellence Fund

Particle astrophysics research addresses the highest priority questions on the nature of the universe while developing novel technologies at the frontiers of science. Queen’s University, recognized as having one of the best particle astrophysics research programs in the world and the scientific home of Dr. Art McDonald co-winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics, aims to be a world leader in the next generation of globally important particle astrophysics experiments. With support from CFREF and the participation of leading scientists at Alberta, British Columbia, Carleton, Laurentian, McGill, Montréal, Toronto, SNOLAB, TRIUMF, Perimeter Institute, the Institute for Particle Physics and CIFAR, the overarching goal is to achieve the highest level of international research excellence and to strengthen Canada’s economy by building an environment where: 1. Queen’s and collaborating Canadian institutions have the critical mass and skills to continue to deliver world-leading breakthrough science and rally the international community around globalscale next generation experiments, including those that seek to capitalize on the attributes and advantages of the SNOLAB facility; 2. innovative training and development programs attract the highest caliber faculty, students and research associates at all career stages and train the next generation of the world’s leading scientists; 3. research with industrial partners produces transformative technologies that advance the science while benefiting the broader community (advancements are expected in data handling and analysis, underground engineering, medical imaging, nuclear medicine, and environmental and personal monitoring in radio-active environments); and 4. the broad public is aware of the experimental program and the value of the research to Canada and the world, and is engaged in its success.