Canada Foundation for Innovation grant to bolster world-class research at Canada's newest university

OSHAWA, Ont. - Canada's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), will receive a major research boost as a result of a $19.3 million Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grant announced last week to the Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network (SHARCNET).

SHARCNET is a High Performance Computing (HPC) consortium of Southern Ontario universities, of which UOIT is a member. The SHARCNET consortium utilizes a technology that enables hundreds of computers to link together to form a supercomputer, and represents a significant research thrust for SHARCNET's academic members.

This newest funding grant from the CFI will expand the SHARCNET community and provide network and computing infrastructure for its latest members - UOIT, Waterloo, Brock and York - in addition to its original consortium members. SHARCNET was formally established in June 2001, beginning with five member universities and a start-up CFI grant of $42-million.

The current 11-member academic consortium is led by the University of Western Ontario and in addition to its newest members, also includes the universities of Guelph, McMaster, Wilfred Laurier, Windsor, and Fanshawe and Sheridan colleges.

"SHARCNET allows us to investigate problems that were previously beyond our reach," says Dr. William Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Science and SHARCNET Board of Directors member. "We can conduct computational science research that has numerous local research benefits, and we have the glue to link us to other researchers to form a multi-institutional research consortium. SHARCNET is an innovative and cost-effective way for researchers to gain access to world-class HPC resources, essential for them to stay at the forefront of their research fields."

One UOIT research project, led by Dr. Ed Waller of Energy Engineering and Nuclear Science, involves the prediction of radiation exposure.

Using SHARCNET, Dr. Waller's research group at UOIT will be able to simulate radiation exposure and predict an individual's level of exposure from a specified radiation source. Another project, led by Dr. Mark Staley of UOIT's Faculty of Science, involves the prediction of risk exposure by financial institutions on the basis of various types of investments.

SHARCNET will be used by many other researchers at UOIT in the Faculties of Science, Engineering, and Business and Information Technology. It is one example of UOIT's world-class research initiatives.

The university is hosting its inaugural SHARCNET information session on Wednesday, March 17, 3-4 p.m., in UA4170, with a reception to follow in UA4220. Members of the media are welcome to attend to find out more about High Performance Computing and the university's role as a member of SHARCNET.

For more information and to RSVP your attendance, please contact Carol Slaughter at 905.721.3111, ext. 2975.

Visit www.sharcnet.ca for a comprehensive look at the SHARCNET organization.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Oliver Fernandez
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111, ext. 2513
oliver.fernandez@uoit.ca