TORONTO, June 30, 2009 -- York University will become a full member of TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics, on July 1.

Located on the campus of the University of British Columbia, TRIUMF is Canada's accelerator laboratory and premier facility for studying the nature of matter.  In the past decade, the laboratory has focused on exotic nuclei, more commonly known as medical isotopes. It is one of three subatomic research facilities in the world that specialize in producing extremely intense beams of particles. TRIUMF has evolved into a national laboratory while maintaining strong ties to the research programs of Canadian universities.

York has a strong connection to TRIUMF through research collaborations, as TRIUMF provides access to research infrastructure and tools that are too large and complex for a single university to build, operate, or maintain. The seven physicists in York’s Faculty of Science & Engineering − Professors Sampa Bhadra, Roman Koniuk, Randy Lewis, Kim Maltman, Scott Menary, Veronica Sanz-Gonzalez and Wendy Taylor − collaborate on several research projects including ATLAS, T2K and ALPHA, with physicists working at TRIUMF.

“York’s High Energy Physics (HEP) faculty have had strong links with TRIUMF for many years,” said Bhadra. “Recognizing this relationship with full membership is a welcome step, which will result in far-reaching collaborative ventures.”

“Within one year of becoming an associate member, this extension to full membership position benefits both York University and TRIUMF,” said Stan Shapson, York’s vice-president, research & innovation. “This will allow our excellent physicists to participate fully in emerging national and international large-scale research collaborations in areas such as advanced nuclear medicine and next-generation particle detectors.”

”We are delighted to have York University join the TRIUMF consortium as a full member and look forward to their input on future strategic directions,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, chair of the TRIUMF’s Board of Management.  “York brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm that will help us fulfil the Five-Year Plan for the future of TRIUMF and Canada.”

TRIUMF is owned and operated as a joint venture by a consortium of Canadian universities via a contribution through the National Research Council, with building capital funds provided by the Government of British Columbia.

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

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