During an official announcement by the Government of Canada on June 14, two Carleton University Canada Research Chairs were approved for renewed five-year terms.
The announcement was made in Ottawa by Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
In today’s global knowledge economy, Canada needs good science and research knowledge to remain competitive. Investments, like the ones announced today, means scientists, researchers and students are supported to become global leaders in their field, helping expand the frontiers of science and investing in a better future for Canadians.
– Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Both CRCs, Mark Boulay and Robin Chhabra, conduct groundbreaking research on outer space and explore the unknown beyond our earth. Boulay is a world-leading expert in experimental particle astrophysics, while Chhabra is creating the next generation of fully autonomous and intelligent space robotic systems.
These Research Chair renewals are prime examples of Carleton’s leading researchers and their ability to challenge how we see the world and our place in it. Boulay and Chhabra’s research will continue to enhance our leadership in particle physics and robotics in an ever-evolving universe.
– Rafik Goubran, Vice-President (Research and International)
Congratulations to Boulay and Chhabra on their progress during their first five years as CRCs:
CRC in Particle Astrophysics
Mark Boulay, Department of Physics
Boulay has made foundational contributions to dark matter searches with argon as well as developed and now serves as Director of the DEAP-3600 collaboration, which collected and analyzed over three years of data during his initial CRC term, generating significant results and publications. He has helped lead the formation of the Global Argon Dark Matter Collaboration, a group of more than 400 researchers from 100 institutions in 14 countries that is mounting a phased approach to liquid argon dark matter searches that will span the next three decades and provide exciting discovery potential for dark matter particles.
Learn more about Boulay’s work on dark matter.
CRC in Cognitive Soft Space Robotics
Robin Chhabra, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Chhabra has established a prolific scientific laboratory and a world-class, externally funded research program that significantly contributed to the field of guidance, navigation, and control of spaceborne systems. His work created new on-orbit servicing mission concepts, enabled safe manipulation in orbit, and pioneered paradigm-shifting research on AI-enabled self-conscious reconfigurable/soft robotics for space exploration. His team has developed long-term autonomy elements for Canadarm3 and LEAP missions, Canada’s contribution to the new international Artemis program for sustainable human exploration of the Moon.
Learn more about Chhabra’s work.