Yesterday the
Globe and Mail published an 8-page section on research at Canadian post-secondary institutions. Despite the billions spent annually on university research, the challenge remains to
turn discoveries into commercial products. Awarding the lion's share of research funding to the
"Big 5" universities would be a "natural disaster," writes
Brock University president Jack Lightstone, who argues that Canada needs more of its universities increasingly engaged in research and graduate studies. Jennifer Gardy, the "Nerd Girl" blogger for
GlobeCampus, muses on the
highs and lows of graduate research. Social science and humanities research does not get its fair share of credit for its
economic and societal contributions. The section profiles
5 researchers making a name for themselves in new and emerging fields. Humber College's dean of research discusses the
crucial role colleges and polytechnics play in innovation. The special report includes articles on
solar research and
rapid prototyping, also known as 3D printing