Through their gift, Stewart and Marilyn Blusson have contributed to the creation of 46 major research projects

Related Links

• Canadian Foundation for Innovation
• B.C. Knowledge Development Fund
• UBC Brain Research Centre
• Earthquake Engineering Research Facility

Cultivating an environment of
discovery
for top young scientists

Stewart Blusson dreams of new discoveries. With a PhD in Geology (preceded by a BSc from UBC in 1960), he has scoured the most difficult terrain of the Far North to uncover rare deposits of gold, copper and diamonds. Now, thanks to his vision and great generosity, he has made it possible for hundreds of the world’s top researchers and scientists at UBC to pursue discoveries of another kind.

In 1998, Stewart and Marilyn Blusson provided an unprecedented $50- million donation for research. The gift enabled UBC to seek additional matching funds through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF), ultimately helping attract $175 million in research funding, with more on the way. The funding has contributed to the creation of 46 major research projects as diverse as the Brain Research Centre, the Earthquake Engineering Research Facility and the Fisheries Ecosystems Research Laboratory.

Through these endeavours top scientists are helping train a new generation of researchers at UBC as they develop innovative solutions to some of the world's most troubling problems such as the creation of a plug to stop toxic run-off at polluted mines or an ambitious effort to develop synthetic blood to ensure adequate, safe blood supplies.

"We now have access to the latest equipment, and have recruited top scientists," says Dr. Indira Samarasekera, Vice-President, Research. "Twenty years from now, people will remember this gift as the one that put us at the frontier of cutting-edge research."

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Global brain gain. Last year 25 top researchers from Canada and around the world became UBC's newest Canada Research Chairs, bringing the number of UBC-based Chairs to a total of 74. They are part of an ambitious program funded by the federal government to attract and retain outstanding researchers for Canadian universities.

High-tech spin-offs at UBC. Research funding supported 5,225 research projects last year. The University-Industry Liaison Office received 141 invention disclosures from faculty and students, filed 151 patent applications, was issued 50 patents, and created eight start-up companies.