University of Saskatchewan professor Lee Barbour has been granted a five-year Industrial Research Chair through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to study water flow in reclaimed oil sands mines.
The IRC program is a partnership between academics and industry; in Barbour’s case, oil giant Syncrude will provide half the funding for the $2.6-million project, and NSERC will put up the other half.
In the wake of reports about Saskatchewan’s recent economic and population growth, a University of Saskatchewan professor cautions that the numbers are not as impressive as they may seem.
In an Oct. 25 op-ed published in the StarPhoenix, Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison claimed that “the prosperity and strong economic growth Saskatoon is now experiencing are here for the long term. The forces are aligned to continue to build Saskatoon’s success for at least the next 25 years. That’s not just wishful thinking, but is an economic fact.”
Underneath the boreal forest in northern Alberta the topsoil and clay give way to an ocean of sand and silt. But this is not like most other sand in the world ”” this dark, sticky underground expanse is the controversial and highly lucrative oil sands upon which Canada’s environmental and economic health may rest.
If Saskatchewan residents are beginning to wonder about the viability of pulling tar sand oil out of the earth, it’s necessary to learn a few things from those who have already done it ”” look to Alberta.
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