The Canadian Light Source is the only synchrotron in Canada and one of the largest scientific infrastructure investments in our country’s history.
Since starting operations in 2005, the CLS has enabled more than 5,700 users to publish close to 8,000 scientific publications -- including over 4,600 peer-reviewed articles. Our facility has played host to 1,100 collaborations involving 45 different countries. Canadian researchers from 11 provinces and territories, and representing over 200 institutions, have advanced science in in a wide variety of fields.
From helping in the fight against COVID-19 to creating new cancer-fighting drugs, developing more nutritious and climate-resistant crops and supporting clean-tech and green mining processes, CLS’s infrastructure and experts help researchers solve problems, train the next generation of scientists, and support industries to become more efficient and sustainable.
CLS employs more than 250 people including scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative and business personnel.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan fund our operations.
Vision
As a valued Canadian voice for innovation, our leadership and world-class talent achieve excellence in light source services and solutions.
Mission
We enable science, learning, and socio-economic benefits through the provision of synchrotron light.
Values
- Safety: We make safety paramount.
- Innovation: We expand the boundaries of what is possible.
- Leadership: We are leaders in light source applications, global science, and organizational excellence.
- Collaboration: We enable collaboration among users, and sectors across academia, industry, and government.
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Accountability: We utilize resources responsibly and hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.
What is a synchrotron light source?
A synchrotron light source produces extremely bright light by using powerful magnets and radio frequency waves to accelerate electrons to nearly the speed of light. This infra-red, ultraviolet and X-ray light is shone down beamlines to experimental stations where scientists can select different parts of the spectrum to "see" the microscopic nature of matter, right down to the level of the atom.
The CLS has enabled scientific advancements in:
Health
COVID-19, cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, HIV, cystic fibrosis, new drug development, antibiotic resistance, malaria, stroke and toxoplasmosis.
Agriculture
Food security, crop development, fertilizers, drought, heat and disease resistant crops, and soil management.
Energy and Environment
Climate change, mine remediation techniques, groundwater contamination, heavy metal contamination in soil, renewable resources, and energy storage and generation.