News Releases

January 15, 2010

NAIT researcher awarded $125,000 NSERC grant

NAIT one of first two colleges or institutes to receive grant in university dominated category

January 12, 2010 – NAIT faculty researcher Dr. Ron Currie has been awarded a $125,000 grant from NSERC to develop technology that can analyze air quality more quickly. His technology could save lives by analyzing air quality in the event of a chemical attack.

“This achievement is something to be proud of for both myself and my research team,” said Currie. “I am honoured that NSERC has recognized our work and ideas for technological advances with this one year grant.”

Stuart Cullum, Executive Director of novaNAIT, which is the home of applied research and enterprise development at NAIT, said the institute was one of the first two colleges or technical institutes in Canada to be successful in the Idea to Innovation program, a specific funding program within NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada). Historically, this faculty funding is usually dominated by universities.

 “NAIT’s success in this competition is significant,” said Cullum. “The program is highly competitive and successful applications have to demonstrate strong scientific evidence as well as a clearly identified and well-described potential market. This award means there is national recognition that colleges and technical institutes can be competitive when it comes to innovative research.”

Currie, who is a faculty researcher from the Chemical Technology Program within the School of Resources and Environmental Management and is supported by novaNAIT, led a team of applied researchers who developed a prototype of an innovative column apparatus for use in gas chromatography, an analytical chemistry technique used in a variety of industries to vaporize and separate mixtures into their component compounds for analysis. The resulting prototype has greater capacity and is more efficient than traditional column technology, resulting in faster, better and cheaper analysis of sample mixtures. In addition, the prototype lends itself to new applications using handheld devices and online analyzers in a variety of fields. The online analyzer would provide for continuous monitoring and would shrink the technology to a device the size of a toaster.

NSERC reviewers noted Currie’s idea would “mark a significant advance in existing technologies” that “could lead to excellent commercial opportunities for this technology and column technology in general.” Reviewers said many companies from various economic sectors could benefit from his technology.

Currie has taught at NAIT since 1982 and has been conducting applied research for more than a decade. In 2001, he collaborated on the development of the Canadian Remote Sciences Laboratories portal, a website that allowed students to operate analytical equipment in NAIT’s chemistry labs from anywhere in the world.

novaNAIT supports and facilitates applied research and development, leading to relevant products and services. For more information go to: www.novanait.ca 

People, Technology, Innovation
NAIT is one of the preeminent institutes of technology in Canada, providing real-world education in business, advanced technologies and skilled trades to more than 84,000 learners worldwide. Known for student success, NAIT also engages with business and industry in applied research and innovation and provides corporate training around the world.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Ron Currie
Senior Faculty Researcher – Green Chemistry & Engineering
P 780.450.6950 E rcurrie@nait.ca

Stuart Cullum
Executive Director
novaNAIT
P 780.378.6190  E stuartc@nait.ca