State-Of-The-Art Projects Risk Losing World-Class Scientists, Experts Say

"They're orphans," says Martin Taylor, president of the Ocean Networks Canada overseeing the ocean observatory at the University of Victoria. The multi-million orphans are in a constant scramble for money, and need long-term federal funding to fulfil their world-class potential, say top scientists and university officials. "They are fabulous facilities, they are fully capable in a technical sense of achieving all that is expected of them," says Peter MacKinnon, president of the University of Saskatchewan, home to the Canadian Light Source synchrotron. "We just have to be able to pay the bills." The facilities are so new that major components and labs are still under construction. But their futures are far from certain -- UVic's NEPTUNE Canada project has the money to pay its staff and operating bills until March 31 and is awaiting an "emergency" cash infusion, while the Synchrotron has enough money for one more year. There are mounting fears the facilities' highly skilled staff will move on. "They could be gone in the snap of a finger," says Bill Thomlinson, executive director of Saskatoon's light source. ... http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=0788ff18-0261-4cc9-ac0a-ccea67c57f81&k=6162

Note: http://www.canada.com/v...