Record highs reached in research rankings
Lethbridge College ranked 16th in the annual Research Infosource ranking of Canada’s top 50 research colleges announced in January – its highest ever appearance. In addition, the college ranks fifth in research income growth, the third straight year it was recognized as one of the country’s 10 fastest-growing research colleges. Lethbridge College’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship received more than $7 million in external research funding during this ranking period, a 103.4 per cent increase from the previous ranking. As well, Lethbridge College ranked first in the country in funding received from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), a non-profit corporation that invests in research infrastructure. The high level of CFI funding is indicative of a growing operation, as infrastructure is put in place to support future research projects.
College receives over $2 million to develop agriculture research centre
Lethbridge College’s on-site research capabilities received a major boost with more than $2 million in federal funding announced in January. The funding from PrairiesCan will allow the college to complete development of its new the Agriculture Research Innovation Facility and to hire skilled personnel to operate the state-of-the-art agriculture research laboratory. The grant is one of the largest applied research grants in Lethbridge College’s history.
The facility, which is located in the former Farm Stewardship Centre on the south end of the college campus and was acquired by the college from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation last year, is expected to be operational by summer 2023. It has become a hub for agriculture research and innovation as the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE) has created research offices in the building in addition to constructing seven research laboratories and one collaborative workshop space. The college has already secured more than $4 million in specialized laboratory equipment for these labs from federal and provincial grants.
Society for Bioengineering conference and AGM planned at LC
More than 200 agriculture and bioengineering students, faculty, research scientists and industry representatives are expected at Lethbridge College July 23 to 26 for a national conference and Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Society for Bioengineering. July’s conference will not only be a first for Lethbridge, but the first time a Canadian college has hosted. Dr. Chandra Singh, Senior Research Chair in Agricultural Engineering and Technology at Lethbridge College, is the society’s Alberta Regional Director and chair of the 2023 AGM organizing committee.
