Two New Research Centres to Launch

McGill is thrilled about its double success in the Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies’ October 2008 Strategic Cluster competition. The Strategic Cluster program aims to foster the emergence or enhancement of centres of excellence in research that has potentially significant scientific, technological, social and economic benefits for Quebec. Thanks to this new funding, two new research centres are set to launch. The Centre de la Science de la Biodiversité, led by McGill biology associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Biodiversity Andrew Gonzalez, will harness Quebec’s critical mass of biodiversity researchers to uncover the basic scientific principles required for the discovery, study and sustainable use of Quebec’s biodiversity. The Strategic Cluster program will fund the CSB for three years, at $300,000 per year. The Centre en chimie verte et catalyse will focus on developing new chemical and biological reactions that are more efficient—and more environmentally friendly—than traditional chemistry. The CCVC cluster will be led by the Université de Montréal, under the co-direction of McGill chemistry professor Chao-Jun (C.J.) Li, the Canada Research Chair in Green Chemistry. The CCVC will receive $450,000 per year, for three years, from the Strategic Cluster program.