Newsletter
============================================| CLS E-News | Vol. 5 No. 4 | October 29, 2007 |
| www.lightsource.ca | University of Saskatchewan, Canada | |
- CLS Life Science Theme Workshop, Nov. 5 – 6, 2007, Saskatoon
- Results of Call for Proposals
- CLS Signs Agreement with Government of India
- BMIT Wiggler Installation
- New Peer review Committee Member
- Meeting for Quebec Synchrotron Users, Nov. 10, 2007, McGill University
- Science Highlight: N K-edge XANES - an overview of reference compounds used to identify "unknown“ organic nitrogen in environmental samples
- New Staff and now Hiring
***********************************************
1. CLS Life Science Theme Workshop, Nov. 5 – 6, 2007, Saskatoon
Contact: Ingrid.pickering@usask.ca
This is the first of three workshops to be held in the three “pillar areas” of the CLS (the other two being Materials and Molecular Science, and Environmental and Earth Sciences). The goals of this workshop are to provide the CLS with feedback on how best it can support life science research, and to form the basis of a multi-year plan for the life sciences at the CLS. To this end, the workshop will produce a report detailing the group’s discussions, conclusions and recommendations for the CLS.
We will focus on two broad thrusts in life science synchrotron research. The first is structural molecular biology, which will include macromolecular crystallography, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering as tools for investigating the structure of biological molecules. The second thrust will be in novel imaging methods, which will include biomedical imaging, soft X-ray microscopy, micro-CT, fluorescence microprobe and IR imaging. We also wish to highlight synergies between these techniques, and areas of future strength for the CLS facility.
Members of the CLS life science community, together with invited experts from around the world, will gather to discuss the future directions of our facility in the life sciences. The CLS community has many strengths in this area. Please join us and help create the vision for the future of life science research at the CLS.
For more information and to register please go to: http://www.lightsource.ca/lifesciences07/
Ingrid Pickering, Meeting Chair
Canada Research Chair in Molecular Environmental Science
Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
******************************************
2. Results of Call for Proposals
Contact: clsuo@lightsource.ca
Six Phase I beamlines participated in this call (all except CMCF). 78 new proposals were received (up from 65), along with 22 beamtime requests against existing proposals. A total of 894 shifts were requested, which is roughly twice the amount available. Multiple proposals were received on all beamlines.
The proposals are currently undergoing the review process and results will be available the week of November 19th. Timeframes and beamlines which participated in the call are available at http://www.lightsource.ca/uso/call_proposals.php
*****************************************
3. CLS Signs Agreement with Government of India
Contact: cls@lightsource.ca
On September 25, in Ottawa, an agreement was signed by the Government of India with the Canadian Light Source (CLS) and the University of Saskatchewan to promote cooperation between Indian and Canadian researchers in synchrotron science. The Letter of Intent was signed during a brief ceremony at the Indian High Commission by Dr. S.K. Sikka, Scientific Secretary to India's Principal Scientific Adviser, CLS Executive Director William Thomlinson and University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon.
The agreement opens the way to explore joint projects between Indian and Canadian researchers in synchrotron science, including materials research, earth and environmental sciences, and biomedical and life sciences. Other opportunities may see Indian researchers travelling to the CLS as customers to use the facility, as well as learn about the operations and design of experimental equipment at Canada's synchrotron.
For the full press release please go to: http://www.lightsource.ca/media/media_release_20070925.php
*******************************************
4. BMIT Wiggler Installation
Contact: tomasz.wysokinski@lightsource.ca
After two years of design, development, fabrication and testing, the BMIT wiggler went through the final alignment process and test procedures on the CLS experimental floor and is now being installed in the storage ring. A wide variety of imaging and therapy experiments planned for the BMIT facility require a unique source with high brilliance, critical energy and a wide beam fan. This small, vertical field direction wiggler is very efficient in terms of use of the radiation generated. It can provide comparable performance to units employed in large synchrotron facilities, such as ID-17 wiggler at ESRF or wiggler A at APS by utilizing high-field ( up to 4.3T) superconductive dipoles with a period length of 48 mm, critical energy range > 20keV, K-value >18, stored energy of 25 kJ and a pole gap of 14.5 mm.
This multi-pole, cold-bore wiggler uses Nb-Ti superconductive wire. The bore of the wiggler is cooled to 20 K. Magnet structure, which is designed to operate at 4.2 K, is located inside the 400 l. Liquid Helium (LHe) vessel, which is shielded from room temperature by two copper shields: 10 K and 30 K cooled with two Sumitomo cryocoolers. The cryogenic system for the wiggler is capable of keeping helium consumption close to zero by using second pair of Sumitomo cryocoolers as recondensers. The tank with the magnet is suspended on Kevlar fiber ribbons used for precise alignment of the magnet axis with e-beam axis. The magnet is energized with four 300 A/10 V power supplies.
This wiggler will provide beam for imaging a wide variety of plant, animal and human specimens using a variety of techniques, as well as beam required for therapy methods.
****************************************
5. New Peer Review Committee member
Contact: clsuo@lightsource.ca
CLS welcomes Dr. Richard Martel, Université de Montréal, as the newest member of our peer review committee.
The PRC evaluates and scores General User proposals for the use of CLS experimental facilities emphasizing the excellence of science based on: the quality of scientific research in the context of the field (merit); the suitability of CLS resources being allocated relative to the proposed research (suitability); and the quality and capability of the researchers based on their track record (capability). Each proposal is reviewed on some level by members and in detail by two committee members and at least one external reviewer. Committee members serve a two-year term and the Chair serves a three-year term.
Details on the Peer Review Committee are available at: http://www.lightsource.ca/uso/peer_reviews.php
**********************************************
6. Meeting for Quebec Synchrotron Users, Nov. 10, 2007, McGill University
Contact: mark@physics.mcgill
The purpose of this meeting is to bring together actual and potential synchrotron users in Quebec for a discussion of how best to take advantage of the Canadian Light Source (CLS). We hope to inform researchers about the capabilities of the beamlines that are available and are under development. A discussion of possible new beamlines can also be undertaken. Finally, possible grant applications to the Quebec government will be discussed. Representatives from the Quebec granting agencies have been invited.
One unique feature of the CLS is its Industrial Science Services. This service provides technical support and access to the unique measurement facilities of the CLS for industrial purposes. Interested industrial users of this service are invited to learn more about what is available and how to access the service.
The meeting will have two general interest science talks followed by discussion of the above issues. Participants are invited for dinner afterwards.
The science talks are:
- Materials Development for Microelectronics: Advantages of Synchrotron Radiation, Christian Lavoie, Watson Research Laboratory, IBM
- Impact of Synchrotron Radiation on Structural Biology, Miroslaw Cygler, the Biotechnology Research Institute of the National Research Council Canada
For more information please visit: http://www.physics.mcgill.ca/~mark/QSU or contact Mark Sutton at mark@physics.mcgill.ca or 514-398-6523.
*********************************************
7. Science Highlight: N K-edge XANES - an overview of reference compounds used to identify "unknown“ organic nitrogen in environmental samples
Contact: rob.blyth@lightsource.ca
A Canadian / German team is developing soft X-ray spectroscopy as a new tool for the investigation of the one of the key areas of soil science - the chemistry of nitrogen. Collaborators from the Universities of Saskatchewan (Fran Walley) and Rostock (Peter Leinweber) have combined to produce the necessary first step - a reference fingerprint library to determine the nature of unknown nitrogen in environmental materials. This is part of the commitment of the CLS to accommodate "dirty" real-world samples that has also brought researchers from the USA and Australia to Saskatoon.
The paper was published in the November 2007 edition of the Journal of Synchrotron Radiation.
http://journals.iucr.org/s/issues/2007/06/00/issconts.html
N K-edge XANES - an overview of reference compounds used to identify "unknown“ organic nitrogen in environmental samples. P. Leinweber, J. Kruse, F.L. Walley, A. Gillespie, K.-U. Eckhardt, R.I.R. Blyth, T. Regier. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation 14, 500 (2007)
*********************************************
8. New Staff and now Hiring
Contact: nancy.fetch@lightsource.ca
We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:
- CMCF1 Science Associate - 2 Yr. Term
- CMCF2 Science Associate - 2 Yr. Term
- Tour guides (Casual)
- Staff Scientist: Far Infrared High Resolution Spectroscopy
For the full position descriptions please go to: http://www.lightsource.ca/careers/
===============================================
CLS E-News is an electronic newsletter designed to keep users and stakeholders informed about developments at the Canadian Light Source, the national synchrotron research facility located at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. Current and past issues of CLS E-News are available on the CLS web site: http://www.lightsource.ca/enews/archives.php
To unsubscribe please go to http://www.lightsource.ca/enews/signup.php. We welcome suggestions for topics and content. Contact us at clsi@lightsource.ca
===========================================
Last modified: 2012-01-19 17:01:08