New research efforts in Canada on geothermal potential in the Arctic
New funding and efforts announced for geothermal research in Canada’s North in the Arctic and the appointment of Prof. Jasmin Raymond as chair for this work.
The Institut nordique du Quebec (INQ) in the Canadian province of Quebec and its founding partners have unveiled the first foundational elements of the Institute’s scientific program by simultaneously announcing three northern research chairs and introducing its newly recruited director of science and innovation, Louis Fortier.
Representatives from INQ’s three founding universities made a joint announcement of funding for three research chairs supported by INQ, allocated to Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), McGill University, and Université Laval -a historic first for northern research.
As part of those announcement, one in particular is interesting in the context of geothermal energy. As part of the funding and staffing announcement, INRS “will have the task of evaluating the North’s geothermic potential, with the goal of reducing CO emissions and countering climate change. ‘The creation of this chair reflects INRS’s desire to contribute technological and social innovations for the sustainable development of Northern Québec. Geothermal energy has a real future as a clean source of energy. The chair’s work will also be part of a program aimed at diversifying energy sources on northern development projects. The chairholder, Professor Jasmin Raymond, is an international hydrogeology expert. He will play a leadership role in expanding the program and training specialists,’ said INRS interim rector Claude Arbour.
INRS is a graduate-level research and training university and ranks first in Canada in its category for research intensity (average funding per professor). Its four centres in Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, and Varennes are home to 150 professors and nearly 700 students and postdoctoral fellows. Its basic research is essential to the advancement of science in Quebec and internationally, and its research teams play a key role in the development of concrete solutions to the problems faced by our society.
We congratulate Prof. Jasmin Raymond, who has been a key researcher for geothermal energy in Quebec and Canada.
Source: McGill University