Guyanese Dr Suresh Narine has been awarded a Cdn$1.25M Ontario Research Chair in Green Chemistry and Engineering from his alumnus Trent University in Ontario, Canada.
According to a press release from the university, Narine, Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), and an internationally-renowned expert in biomaterials, has been given one of two chairs by the Ontario Research Chairs Selection Panel.
The award, recently confirmed by Minister of Environment John Gerretsen symbolizes and celebrates the scientific expertise emerging at the university with the recent launch of both the Trent Biomaterials Research Programme and the Centre of Knowledge in the Environment. As an Ontario Research Chair, Narine will receive funding of Cdn$250,000 per year for five years.
“This prestigious provincial award adds to the momentum that is building around a new field of research that holds great promise in addressing some of society’s greatest environmental challenges. The impacts of this research will be felt locally and internationally,” Dr James Parker, vice president of research at Trent said. He said too the university is grateful to the Ontario government for its ongoing and generous support of Narine’s scholarly research. Last year Ontario’s Ministry of Agricul-ture, Food and Rural Affairs pledges support to the establishment of the new Trent Biomaterials Research Programme, headed by Narine.
Narine said he is honoured by the selection. “This chair not only represents a highly opportune and important addition to the University’s research and development strengths in the areas of Chemistry, Environmental and Resource Science/Studies, Physics, and Materials Science but it will also assist in creating new pathways for Trent students to learn about and gain important experience in the emerging field of green chemistry,” he said.
According to the release, Narine and his team will study the synthesis, structure and functionality of biomaterials from lipid feedstock. Phase One of two phases is complete. Phase Two is expected to be completed in September 2010. On completion the programme is expected to be among the top one per cent of laboratories in the world focused in lipid bioproducts and their structure-function relationships.
