Ottawa, ON – McGill University astrophysicist Dr. Victoria M. Kaspi has won the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The prize, which comes with a $1 million research grant, has been awarded annually since 1991 to recognize “sustained excellence and overall influence” of research conducted in Canada.
Dr. Kaspi is one of the world’s leading experts on neutron stars, the ancient remnants of the most massive stars in the Milky Way. Using the largest and most powerful radio and X-ray telescopes in the world, Dr. Kaspi studies the physical behaviour of neutron stars, pulsars and magnetars. Dr. Kaspi’s research group has had major impacts in the field of astrophysics, including unique tests confirming Einstein’s long-held theory of general relativity and discovering the fastest rotating star. Her team’s 2002 landmark discovery of powerful X-ray bursts from an enigmatic class of star essentially doubled the number of known magnetars in our galaxy. She is the first woman to win the award.
In addition to the Herzberg Canada Gold Medal, NSERC also awarded prizes to other researchers for outstanding university-industry partnerships, ground-breaking discoveries, excellence in multidisciplinary research, and fellowships to enhance the career development of outstanding and highly promising scientists and engineers.
These award recipients include:
NSERC John C. Polanyi Award: Barbara Sherwood Lollar, University of Toronto
The Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering: Shana Kelley, University of Toronto, and Edward H. Sargent, University of Toronto
NSERC Gilles Brassard Doctoral Prize for Interdisciplinary Research: Yasser Gidi, McGill University
E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships: Elena M. Bennett, McGill University, Curtis P. Berlinguette, The University of British Columbia, Zhongwei Chen, University of Waterloo, David Sinton, University of Toronto, Mark Vellend, Université de Sherbrooke, and Stephen I. Wright, University of Toronto
Synergy Awards for Innovation:
Category 1: Small- and Medium-sized Companies: Emil M. Petriu, University of Ottawa, Industrial partner: Rami Abielmona, Larus Technologies Corp.
Category 2: Large Companies: J. David Miller, Carleton University, Industrial partner: Greg Adams, J.D. Irving, Limited
Category 3: Two or More Companies: Jean Caron, Université Laval, Industrial partners: Jean-Paul Guérin, Maraîchers J.P.L. Guérin et fils inc., Daniel Malenfant, Vert Nature inc., Denys Van Winden, Production horticole Van Winden inc., Jean-Bernard Van Winden, Les fermes Hotte et Van Winden inc., and Stéphane Van Winden, Delfland inc.
Category 4: Colleges: Neil Cooke, Red River College; Ray Hoemsen, Red River College; Jose Rizalino M. Delos Reyes, Red River College; Shokry Rashwan, Red River College; Rob Spewak, Red River College; Industrial partner, Lloyd Kuczek, Manitoba Hydro
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