Canadian scientists and academics found Canadian Geothermal Research Council (CanGRC)
Logo of the Canadian Geothermal Resources Council (CanGRC)
Alexander Richter
19 Aug 2011
Canadian scientists and students found the Canadian Geothermal Research Council, to serve Canada's geothermal research community. The aim is to raise awareness about geothermal research in Canada.
On August 9, 2011, the Canadian Geothermal Research Council was officially launched by a group of enthusiastic geothermal scientists and students from Canada.
The official release by CanGRC: “Geothermal technologies are clean and reliable energy sources that take advantage of the thermal properties of the Earth’s subsurface for
direct use heating and cooling applications and electricity generation.
Canada has already begun to utilize these technologies for heating and cooling purposes; however, it remains one of the only countries on the Pacific Rim to not produce electricity from geothermal resources. Studies released by the Geological Survey of Canada show these untapped subterranean resources to be vast, and new reservoir technologies may make geothermal electricity generation feasible nation-wide. Needless to say, geothermal research in Canada is a pertinent and stimulating field of
study.
The Canadian Geothermal Research Council (CanGRC) is a voluntarily-run organization dedicated to serving Canada’s geothermal research community. It does not exist as a government lobby group, nor is it intended to represent a unified voice of the research community. Rather, CanGRC exists to raise awareness about geothermal research in Canada, to showcase Canadian geothermal research and to elevate communication within the research community.
CanGRC is a recent initiative by 3 graduate students from across the country – Ryan Libbey (McGill University), Yuliana Proenza (University of British Columbia) and Lena Patsa (University of British Columbia).
CanGRC operations are guided by an esteemed Board of Directors, which includes geothermal scientists from academic, government and industry positions. Currently serving on this Board is Dr. Grant Ferguson (St. Francis Xavier University), Dr. Catherine Hickson (Alterra Power Corp.), Mr. Craig Dunn (Borealis Geopower) and Dr. Steve Grasby (Geological Survey of Canada/Natural Resources Canada/University of Calgary).”
“The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association, the collective voice of the Canadian geothermal energy industry, supports the efforts of CanGRC and congratulates the Canadian geothermal research community to the foundation of this geothermal research focused sister organization. We are glad to join forces in promoting geothermal energy research and development in Canada and gladly signed a Memorandum of Understanding highlighting the close relationship with CanGRC. We are looking forward working in close collaboration to bring geothermal power development to Canada”, so Alexander Richter, Director of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA).
In an effort to connect and inform Canada’s geothermal research community, CanGRC utilizes several media outlets:
- A bi-annual newsletter, the CanGRC Review, which accepts contributions from professional and student sources related to Canadian geothermal research (www.cangrc.ca/publications.html).
- An interactive website (www.cangrc.ca) that includes news updates, an online forum, internship/job postings, useful resources for geothermal research and more.
- Social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter.
Membership to CanGRC is completely free and includes a subscription to the bi-annual newsletter. CanGRC encourages everyone interested in geothermal research to join – simply follow this link (www.cangrc.ca/members.html) and fill out the form. Feedback via info@cangrc.ca.
Be sure to visit our booth at the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association’s 4th Annual Conference and Investment Forum in Toronto
(Sept 14-15, 2011, www.cangeaevents.ca/toronto/). Hope to see you there.
