Canadian Astronomy and Astrophysics Network


On March 17, 1999 the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence announced a new, open, competition. The competition budget is about $10M per year for as much as seven years. The program is funded by NSERC, MRC, SSHRC and Industry Canada. It is clear that the goals are quite different from those we are familiar with in NSERC completions. ``The goal of the federal NCE program is to mobilize Canada's research talent in the academic, private and public sectors and apply it to the task of developing the economy and improving the quality of life of Canadians. This goal is consistent with, and reinforces, the three pillars of the federal Science and Technology strategy: sustainable job creation and economic growth, improved quality of life, and advancement of knowledge. ''

Much of Canada's Astronomy and Astrophysics community took up the challenge to get a Letter of Intent into the competition for the June 1 deadline. More than 60 scientists, 16 Universities, HIA, and about 25 companies expressed support for the NCE partnership under the banner of the Canadian Astronomy and Astrophysics Network, proposing a total budget of about $4M per year, largely centred around the activity that is being funded by the Canadian Space Agency and the proposals of the Long Range Planning Panel. At the very least the effort and enthusiasm expressed our collective vision that Astronomy and Astrophysics presents a tremendous opportunity for funding science that generates high tech business activity. Moreover this is a critical time for new funding to arrive to help us rise to the challenge of the new facilities. The following is from the preamble to the Letter of Intent.

The Canadian Astronomy and Astrophysics Network (CAAN) takes advantage of a unique moment and an urgent need. The Canadian Space Agency is now beginning the investment of approximately $100M in new Astronomy related satellites. Simultaneously, the Long Range Planning Panel (LRPP), co-sponsored by the National Research Council (NRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), has developed an exciting scientific vision for Astronomy facilities through a proposal that we build $147M in new international facilities over the next decade. In addition, the powerful Gemini telescopes will soon be available and existing frontline facilities need to acquire innovative instrumentation to obtain full value from the ongoing operations costs.

The goal of CAAN is to build upon Canada's investments in astronomical facilities to greatly enhance its scientific and economic benefits. Specifically we will deliver:

These along with the inter-sector linkages will be the centrepiece of the ongoing strengths which will be the living legacy of CAAN.

Ray Carlberg      <carlberg@moonray.astro.utoronto.ca>

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