Yukon College awarded first Industrial Research Chair

January 11, 2013

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Research Centre at Yukon College is pleased to welcome Dr. Amelie Janin as the NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Mining Life Cycle at Yukon College.

The NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges grant is for an initial term of 5 years. As the new Chair, Dr. Janin will work with the Yukon mining industry to develop a business-focused applied research program on reclamation activities throughout the mining lifecycle. The program will investigate the applicability to the north of innovative technologies for both water and soil treatment.

Alexco Resource Corp., Capstone Mining Corp., Yukon Zinc Corp., and Victoria Gold Corp. have made an initial two year commitment to match the NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) funding of $100,000 per year. The four companies partnered with the College on the initial application to NSERC and created the Yukon Mining Research Consortium to support the Chair.

“The Yukon Mining Research Consortium is very proud to support the first NSERC Research Chair ever awarded to Yukon College” said David Petkovich of Alexco Resource Corp. on behalf of the Consortium partners. “We are excited to partner with Dr. Janin and the Yukon Research Centre in looking at new applied northern technologies for this important work.” 

“Yukon Government is pleased to support the Yukon Research Centre and Yukon College because we believe that Yukon is uniquely positioned to research and develop northern technologies to improve the mining industry,” Economic Development Minister Currie Dixon said. “Dr. Janin’s work will improve our local scientific knowledge and capacity within the mining industry, which will strengthen our economy and our stewardship of the environment.”

“We are looking forward to Dr. Janin applying her expertise to advancing research into environmental and reclamation technologies applicable to our northern climate,” Education Minister Scott Kent said. “The work she will do through the Yukon Research Centre is an excellent opportunity for innovation both at Yukon College and in the territory’s mining industry.”

Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges grants support longer term research partnerships between industry and colleges.  Yukon College is one of only 15 colleges with an active chair. Industry support for the research is a condition of NSERC support.

“Achieving an Industrial Research Chair for Colleges reflects both the quality of our programs and the strength of our partnership with the Yukon mineral resources industry for this research,” said Dr. Chris Hawkins, vice president Research at Yukon College.

Dr. Janin will spend the initial weeks meeting with the four companies to learn more about their particular reclamation conditions and which projects are priorities for investigation before preparing a research plan.


The Yukon Research Centre (YRC) at Yukon College has six key programs: Cold Climate Innovation, Technology Innovation, Northern Climate ExChange, Biodiversity Monitoring, Science Adventures, and Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic. Core funding for the Yukon Research Centre is provided by Yukon Education and Yukon Economic Development.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Jacqueline Bedard
Director
College Relations
Yukon College
867.456.8619
jbedard@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Elaine Schiman
Community and Cabinet Communications
Cabinet Office
Government of Yukon
867-633-7961
elaine.schiman@gov.yk.ca