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When signing up to Connect2Canada, you indicated an interest in science and technology. We thought you would be interested in the following science and technology news from Canada.

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The Connect2Canada Team

Quantum Leap in Solar Technology
Despite significant progress, solar power still does not compete with fossil fuels or large electric grids in meeting a significant portion of a nation's energy demands. That's because today's conventional silicon-based photovoltaic cells are still too inefficient and expensive to manufacture for large-scale electricity generation. But recent advances in nanotechnology and photonics could change all that, according to Dr. Simon Fafard, the former National Research Council scientist who founded Cyrium Technologies. Thanks to support from NRC and the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre, this young Canadian firm has developed an innovation that will significantly improve the efficiency of solar power generation while reducing its cost. http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/highlights/2008/0804solar_e.html

Canada Announces 11 New Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research
Minister of Industry Jim Prentice today announced $163 million to establish 11 new Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECRs). These centres will share $163 million to pursue major discoveries and bring them to the marketplace over the next five years. http://www.nce.gc.ca/media/newsrel/2008/140208_e.htm

Heart Progenitor Cells Developed from Embryonic Stem Cells; New Hope for Testing
Canadian scientist Gordon Keller and his team of international researchers have successfully grown human heart progenitor cells from embryonic stem cells. With this advancement, Keller, director of Toronto's McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University Health Network, and his team, have taken a significant step towards the creation of functioning heart tissue. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/23/c8670.html

Premier’s Innovation Awards Celebrate Excellence
Eliminating the use of harmful chemicals, defining the genetic factors underlying autism spectrum disorder, finding better ways to fight lung cancer. These are among the results behind the innovative research celebrated at the recent 2008 Premier’s Award for Innovation. Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson distributed over $7.3 million to the 10 award winners to continue their work producing better healthcare, a cleaner environment and Ontario’s next generation of jobs. http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/news/PIA043008.asp

Ten Countries Co-ordinate Cancer Fight
Research groups from 10 countries are announcing an unprecedented global effort to combat cancer, one of the world's leading killers. The collaborative project, dubbed the International Cancer Genome Consortium, will hunt the genetic mutations that drive 50 different types of cancer – from breast to bone. The consortium, in which Canada will play a lead role, plans to share results rapidly, widely and freely so scientists can quickly develop new diagnostic tests and treatments to counter them. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080429.wcancer0429/BNStory/Science/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail

Keeping Blood Sugar Stable is Key to Permanent Weight Loss
During his 16 years as president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Canadian author Rick Gallop was well aware of the problem of weight gain. But it wasn’t until he gained weight himself that he began to look seriously into dietary and weight loss research. He was especially drawn to the work of Dr. David Jenkins, a researcher at the University of Toronto who invented the Glycemic Index (GI) in 1980. A firm believer in the science behind the GI, Gallop has used it to lose his own excess weight. Since then, he has helped thousands of others lose weight and keep it off. InnovationCanada.ca spoke with him to find out how to battle the bulge. http://www.innovationcanada.ca/32/en/articles/gallop.html