UNIQUE RESEARCH CHAIR SHEDS LIGHT ON EARTH’S SURFACE

VICTORIA – The Province is partnering with the University of Victoria to find new ways to use data collected by sensors in planes and satellites to protect and manage natural resources, Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, announced today.

Geologist Benoit Rivard, former director of the Centre for Earth Observation Science at the University of Alberta, has been appointed B.C. Leadership Chair in Hyperspectral Remote Sensing. It is the first chair in this field in Canada.

“Our Leading Edge Endowment Fund is supporting world-class research at UVic that will be used for purposes ranging from detecting insect infestations in forests to locating promising mineral deposits and measuring the effects of climate change,” said Chong, who is responsible for research. “Benoit Rivard is working with space-age technology to unlock the secrets of our Earth’s surface. His work is key to B.C.’s leadership in this field.”

Hyperspectral imaging collects and measures both visible light reflected from surface features like rocks, trees and water, as well as the nonvisible energy they emit. Rivard is a leader in interpreting hyperspectral data and has special expertise in geological remote sensing.

“Dr. Rivard’s appointment builds on UVic’s already considerable strengths in hyperspectral remote sensing,” said UVic president David Turpin. “Thanks to the Leading Edge Endowment Fund and the generosity of matching donors, Dr. Rivard and his program will be a provincial focal point for research on the application of hyperspectral imaging technology to B.C.’s natural resource challenges and opportunities.”

Rivard is working with government, industry and other university researchers to develop new hyperspectral techniques for resource exploration and environmental monitoring. He is also developing methods to find early signs of such pests as the mountain pine beetle.

“Once the trees show signs visible to our eyes, the beetles have already moved on,” Rivard said. “To take action, we need to detect an infestation while the trees are still green. This is one of many resource management areas where hyperspectral imaging has great potential. ”

The Province provided $2.25 million to endow the chair permanently through its $56.25-million Leading Edge Endowment Fund, established in 2002. The provincial contribution was matched by funds from UVic and the University of Victoria Foundation.

“I know that Benoit Rivard will be a great asset as a new B.C. leadership chair,” said Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. “These internationally peer-reviewed chairs provide a unique opportunity to further strengthen our world-class research to benefit our environment, our economy and our province.”

The Leading Edge Endowment Fund is establishing 20 leadership chairs, as well as nine regional innovation chairs, to attract top researchers to B.C. and keep them here. The leadership chair in hyperspectral remote sensing is the 16^th chair announced to date. UVic has also been awarded a leadership chair in marine ecosystems and global change.

Funding for LEEF is part of $1.7 billion committed to research and innovation in B.C. since 2001, which has leveraged another $1 billion in research funding from other sources.

Note: Photos of the minister touring the hyperspectral remote sensing labs with chair Benoit Rivard will be available at www.gov.bc.ca/tted/popt/gallery/default.htm.

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Contact:

Gordon Williams

Communications Director

Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development

250 952-0152 / 250 413-7316

Valerie Shore

Communications

University of Victoria

250 721-7641 / vshore@uvic.ca

Benoit Rivard

B.C. Leadership Chair in Hyperspectral Remote Sensing

University of Victoria

250 853-3280 / brivard@uvic.ca

1 backgrounder(s) attached.


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