Carleton Researchers Receive More Than $1 Million to Solve Real World Problems

Ottawa – Three Carleton University researchers are receiving a total of $1,328,497 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), allowing them to pursue research to help farmers enhance environmental stewardship, generate northern economic development and improve communications networks.

Dr. Lenore Fahrig in the Department of Biology is getting $521,717 to build a landscape simulation model that will determine which agri-environmental policies are most effective in enhancing biodiversity. Her research collaborators and supporting organizations will use the results to inform farmers of best practices for environmental stewardship.

Geology Professor Tim Patterson will receive $420,680 to provide a detailed assessment of the impact of climate change on the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road (TCWR). TCWR is the world’s longest heavy haul ice road. At 586 kilometers, it extends from Yellowknife into southern Nunavut. The TCWR is critical to the economy of the Northwest Territories, with more than $500 million per year in goods passing north to service mines along the route. With a projected growth in truck traffic to 14,000 loads by 2013, it is critical that policymakers, planners and mine developers have reasonable data for economic forecasts. The results of this research may be used by stakeholders to strategically manage northern ecosystems and to inform policymakers and planners of potential climate conditions that may prevail in the coming decades.

Dr. Q Zhang in the Faculty of Engineering and Design will receive $386,100 to help dramatically increase the productivity of wireless and wireline communications systems design by developing modeling and design optimization of the next generation high-frequency components and subsystems. By addressing high-frequency challenges, this research will contribute to extending bandwidth limits and accelerating the application of new and emerging devices for communication systems. The work will be carried out in close interaction with Canadian industry, strengthening Canadian competitiveness in next-generation communication networks.