Thunder Bay’s Lakehead University is creating an industrial research chair in green chemicals and processes.
The establishment of the five-year position is being bolstered with more than $814,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC). The position will be supported by a staff of 16.
The research will focus on ways to reduce the environmental impacts of the pulp and paper and mineral processing industries.
An additional investment of $473,000 from Heritage Fund is being funnelled into the university for a new fire resistance testing laboratory and furnace to allow engineering study to study the fire resistance of large-scale building components, such as beams, columns and floor assemblies.
“Our exceptional education system focuses on innovation and independent thinking, which continues to attract researchers, students and faculty, as well as highly skilled professionals, from around the world,” said Lakehead vice-chancellor and president Brian Stevenson in a statement.
Investing in job creation and research and development at Lakehead University will drive new solutions and support our government’s commitment to protect the environment and Ontarians, as well as continue to build up economic opportunities here in northwestern Ontario,” said NOHFC chair and northern development and mines minister Michael Gravelle in a news release.