UOIT researchers play leading roles in working groups of the Canadian Space Agency

Dr. Tony Waker and Dr. Ed Waller have prominent roles in space research

Demonstrating once again that its researchers are among the best in Canada and around the world, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology is now represented at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) through the creation of the Space Dosimetry and Radiation Science Discipline Working Group.

Spearheaded and chaired by Dr. Tony Waker, a professor with UOIT's Health Physics and Radiation Science program, the two-year working group is one of several established by the CSA in 2007 in the areas of exploration, life and physical sciences, and Space and Astronomy. The groups will serve to advise the CSA on the current status of its research fields and to identify knowledge gaps for future studies and directed funding.

"I'm delighted to be chairing this working group and am excited by the possibilities before us as we pursue this important work," said Dr. Waker. "We believe it will help define the research currently taking place in Canada and the other areas we should be including in the future."

The Space Dosimetry and Radiation Science Discipline working group also includes three subgroups: Metrology, Radiation Biology and Simulation and Modelling. The latter is chaired by UOIT's Dr. Ed Waller, an associate professor in the Health Physics and Radiation Science program.

"Dr. Waker has been instrumental in developing the Space Dosimetry and Radiation Science working group into a very high-profile, active and viable entity that is represented by some of the best universities in Canada, including UOIT," said Dr. Waller. "We are both extremely proud to be representing UOIT in this endeavour.

"Our overall goal for this working group is to bring together experts in the fields of space dosimetry and radiation science at the national and international levels, and facilitate the formation of a collaborative network of scientists from academia, government laboratories and the private sector."

Over the course of the two years, the Space Dosimetry group will also look at how Canada can participate on the national and international stages of space initiatives.

At its first meeting in November 2007, the group listened to presentations, held a roundtable discussion and a series of brainstorming sessions to map out future activities.

Dr. Waker presented work on the construction and operation of a multi-element Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) developed for mixed-field neutron gamma monitoring. It could be configured either as a 3D detector for distinguishing between charged particle and neutron dose in a space radiation environment, or as TEPCs with separate high and low linear energy transfer (LET) event measuring channels.

Dr. Waker's and Dr. Waller's roles with the CSA are reflective of the great wealth of diverse thinking that UOIT faculty members bring to the classrooms and labs. UOIT professors are experts in their fields from around the world and inspire students to push their boundaries of thinking and learning.

Since its creation in 1989, the CSA's mandate has been to ensure that Canadians learn and benefit from the innovations of space science and technology to the greatest extent possible. With almost half of Canada's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the knowledge-intensive sectors of the economy, the Canadian space program is a key driver behind continued leadership on the world stage, new opportunities for industry and scientists, and long-term social and economic benefits for all Canadians.

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