U of T turns into tenth establishment to hitch revolutionary tutorial program designed to domesticate a robust and sustainable expertise pipeline for Canada’s nuclear future
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO JOINS CANADIAN NUCLEAR LABORATORIES’ ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Dr. Monica Regalbuto, Vice-President of Science and Technology, Canadian National Laboratories; Fred Dermarkar, President and CEO, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited; Prof. Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives, U of T. (picture by Aaron Demeter)
CHALK RIVER, Ontario, July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and expertise laboratory, and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), a federal Crown company with a mandate to drive nuclear alternative for Canada, are happy to welcome the University of Toronto (U of T) as the latest member of CNL’s Academic Partnership Program. Representatives from all three organizations gathered at U of T’s Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus for a signing ceremony to formalize the brand new partnership, marking U of T because the tenth establishment to hitch this system, which is designed to domesticate the subsequent technology of nuclear expertise.
Developed to assist Canada’s R&D neighborhood assist the nation’s local weather targets by means of nuclear vitality, the Academic Partnership Program is working to construct a workforce pipeline for the nuclear business, encourage collaborative analysis, and facilitate shared entry to the infrastructure, expertise and experience at Canada’s nationwide nuclear laboratories. With a big selection of disciplines spanning science, engineering, enterprise and social sciences, the University of Toronto brings key synergies with CNL’s missions into this system, which incorporates initiatives in clear vitality, well being, environmental remediation and nationwide safety.
The new partnership additionally intently follows the latest launch of the federal authorities’s Nuclear Energy Strategy for Canada. This requires the development of new giant and small-scale reactors, rising the chance for the CANDU reactor and different nuclear exports, funding in nuclear innovation and analysis, and establishing the federal coordination, and workforce capability wanted to make Canada a world nuclear chief.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for Canada’s nuclear industry, as public and political interest in nuclear energy continues to grow, driven by climate targets and surging electricity demand, and supported by this ambitious new federal policy,” says Dr. Amy Gottschling, AECL’s Vice-President of Science, Technology and Commercial Oversight. “Partnering with main universities such because the University of Toronto will assist guarantee we will notice this future by cultivating the subsequent technology of researchers, scientists and technical specialists.”
“We are thrilled to now count the University of Toronto among our partners, welcoming one of Canada’s leading universities to our mission to advance nuclear science and technology for the benefit of Canadians,” explains Dr. Monica Regalbuto, CNL’s Vice-President of Science and Technology. “In partnership with AECL, the Academic Partnership Program permits Canada’s nationwide nuclear laboratories to mix sources with Canada’s main universities, pursuing collaborative analysis and broadening college students’ post-secondary studying experiences. We look ahead to working in partnership with the University of Toronto in the direction of these targets.”
The partnership comes at an opportune time for U of T, as it really works to raise its nuclear program, and develop new programs and coaching applications in nuclear expertise. Administrators for this system envision pupil analysis placements on the Chalk River Laboratories, the internet hosting of conferences and workshops, and new tutorial business analysis collaborations. Other actions might embrace bringing nuclear specialists from CNL and AECL to U of T to ship visitor lectures or coaching modules, and even collectively supplied micro-credential programs that might assist each graduate college students and business professionals improve their data of rising nuclear applied sciences.
“Canada’s nuclear capability has been built over many decades through leading organizations such as Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited,” says Dr. Nazir Kherani, Professor in U of T’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. “Their mixture of world-class amenities, corresponding to Chalk River Laboratories, and technical experience creates an distinctive atmosphere for advancing analysis, accelerating innovation and coaching the subsequent technology of expertise.”
Now getting into its fourth 12 months, the Academic Partnership Program has engaged with over 7,000 college students from throughout Canada. Among this system’s highlights is the launch of a aggressive 16-week experiential studying program designed to encourage and put together future leaders in nuclear science and engineering. It additionally organizes and delivers quite a few pupil engagement occasions and alternatives, together with mentorship alternatives, visitor lectures, pupil conferences, panel discussions, graduate and undergraduate analysis poster periods, and capstone and design initiatives. CNL workers have instantly participated in these engagements, sharing their data and enthusiasm, making every occasion an enriching expertise for college kids.
To be taught extra about CNL, together with its analysis initiatives and applications, go to www.cnl.ca.
About AECL
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is a federal Crown company with a mandate to drive nuclear alternatives for Canada. Working by means of a Government-owned, Contractor-operated (GoCo) mannequin that’s executed by its contractor, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, AECL permits nuclear science and expertise by means of its Chalk River Laboratories, Canada’s largest analysis complicated, and by participating with academia and personal business to advance nuclear innovation. It is dedicated to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It additionally manages the Government of Canada’s radioactive waste tasks. AECL continues to personal the mental property for the CANDU® reactor expertise and is accountable for deriving optimum profit from this expertise for Canada. Read extra on AECL at www.aecl.ca.
About CNL
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and expertise laboratory and dealing underneath the route of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world chief within the improvement of revolutionary nuclear science and expertise services and products. CNL fulfils three strategic priorities of nationwide significance – restoring and defending the atmosphere, advancing clear vitality applied sciences, and contributing to the well being of Canadians.
By leveraging the property owned by AECL, CNL additionally serves because the nexus between authorities, the nuclear business, the broader non-public sector, and the educational neighborhood. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance revolutionary Canadian services and products in the direction of real-world use, together with carbon-free vitality, most cancers therapies and different therapies, non-proliferation applied sciences and waste administration options.
To be taught extra about CNL, please go to www.cnl.ca.
CNL Contact:
Philip Kompass
Director, Corporate Communications
1-866-886-2325
AECL Contact:
Jeremy Latta
Director of Communications and Government Reporting
A photograph accompanying this announcement is accessible at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/148a1316-987d-470a-aabf-63e34523de1e
