Prominent researcher joins University of Ontario Institute of Technology as research and grad studies

OSHAWA, Ont. - Kamiel Gabriel, the key figure behind a multi-million dollar University of Saskatchewan project in microgravity research, is now head of research here at Ontario's newest university.

The former Associate Dean of Engineering (Graduate Studies, Research & Extension) at the University of Saskatchewan is the newest member of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) community. He officially began as its Associate Provost, Research and Graduate Programs on April 1.

At UOIT, Dr. Gabriel will liaise with granting councils, government agencies and industrial partners, assist faculty in attracting research funding, and head the development of graduate programs.

Dr. Gabriel is eager to lay out the foundations for strategic research initiatives for the university.
"I feel at ease being in the circles of politicians at both the federal and provincial levels," says Dr. Gabriel. "One of my strengths is my ability to describe research projects in an understandable way and translate research needs very tangibly."
Establishing UOIT as a major research institution is a tremendous challenge, but for the new Associate Provost, the key to success lies in the strength of his new colleagues.

"The calibre of our faculty is excellent," says Gabriel. "This university has attracted talented faculty from across Ontario, Canada and the world."

Dr. Gabriel has B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Alexandria, a MBA in International Business Studies from the University of Saskatchewan, a PhD in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from the University of Manitoba, and a diploma in Space Science from the International Space University, Strasbourg, France.

It was UOIT's vision statement and its particular emphasis on value-added research that attracted Dr. Gabriel.

"I have always believed in research as a tool to reach the end users in society with the purpose of improving our societal socio-economic situation," says Dr. Gabriel.

Gabriel was also excited by UOIT's innovative thinking and fresh approach to management.

"We have the opportunity to do something completely different here. We're not dealing with entrenched modes of operation. This is a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity."

His commitment as an educator has led to much praise and honour. These accolades include a 2003 Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award from the University of Saskatchewan. The distinguished professor has supervised 24 master's and doctoral theses. Jane Cavanagh, an Engineering graduate student whom Dr. Gabriel co-supervised, won an Amelia Earhart Award in fall 2003. Cavanagh was one out of three award recipients in Canada, with 35 awards given worldwide by Zonta International, a global women's organization.

Dr. Gabriel has had extensive media coverage on the Discovery Channel and the CBC for his involvement in the Centre for Microgravity Research and Education (CMORE) project.

The project involves a drop-shaft facility to be built in an abandoned mineshaft at Patience Lake, 16 km east of Saskatoon. The 1,000-metre drop-shaft would be the longest in the world and the first one in Canada. It would allow researchers to conduct experiments in near-zero gravity, or microgravity conditions.

In 2002, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) awarded the University of Saskatchewan $8.56 million in capital costs and another $2.57 million in operational costs for the microgravity facility.

Presently, Dr. Gabriel is working with potential partners to build a microgravity facility in Ontario.
"Most of the Canadian users for microgravity research are in Ontario and Quebec," says Dr. Gabriel. He points to Sudbury as a possible site for a drop-shaft facility.

Provost Michael Finlayson is delighted to have Dr. Gabriel on the University's team.
"Kamiel Gabriel is a distinguished engineer with an outstanding record of research accomplishments," says Finlayson. "He's also an experienced academic administrator and will bring heft as well as an increased focus to our research ambitions to mount targeted graduate programs."

Dr. Gabriel's arrival coincides with the recent announcement of 10 new research grants given to UOIT science and engineering faculty. On March 23, 10 faculty members were awarded a combined total of $249,276 in Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants.

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