Canadian Universities with a Space Connection

According to the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC), the universities and colleges across the country "educate more than 1.5 million students annually. They perform more than one-third of Canada’s research and development. And as a $30 billion enterprise, our universities generate economic wealth in communities across Canada."


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Here are a few specific examples of some of their connections to space focused activities.

• The Carlton University Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering – They came in third in the 2008 NASA Great Moon Buggy Race.  

• Laurentian University – Awarded the 2011 Lunabotics Challenge to a team from Laurentian University according to this May 31st press release on the NASA Lunar Science Institute website.

• McGill Institute of Air and Space Law – Training aviation and space focused lawyers to serve throughout the world. Co-hosted the 2011 American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law at the Marriot Château Champlain, in Montréal, PQ from September 22nd – 23rd, 2011.  

• The Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics - A basic research centre dedicated to exploring the world around us at its most fundamental level. Over 80 resident researchers, plus a vigorous visitor program of cross-disciplinary research in condensed matter, cosmology & gravitation, particle physics, quantum foundations, quantum gravity, quantum information theory, superstring theory and related areas.

• The Ryerson University Engineering Graduate Program – Focuses on aerodynamics and propulsion, aerospace structures, manufacturing, avionics and aerospace systems. 

• The University of Alberta Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS) -Using Earth observation and imaging technology monitor environmental changes, manage resources and formulate sustainable development policies.

• The University of Alberta Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology (ISSET) – A pioneering interdisciplinary centre for p1lanetary and space research in Canada at one of Canada’s largest research-intensive universities. One of the organizers of the Canada-Norway Student Sounding Rocket (CaNoRock) exchange program. 

• The University of Calgary (UofC) Institute for Space Research - Part of the Department of Physics at the U of C and focused on the areas of space plasma, aural imaging and analysis and modeling.

• The University of Guelph Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) - Part of Ontario Agricultural College, CESRF and its Space and Advanced Life Support Agriculture program focus on plant research for space and other closed environment related activities. Possesses useful connections with the Canadian Space Agency and the strong support of NASA's Advanced Life Support (ALS) community.

• The University of Saskatchewan – Home of the University of Saskatchewan Space Design Team (USST), a student run organization which dominated the recent NASA sponsored Space Elevator Games and is now preparing to build a nano-satellite as part of the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge (CSDC).

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• The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) – The first Canadian academic institution able to build low cost spacecraft, micro-satellites and nano-satellites. Collaborates with business, government and academic institutions on the development of new space technologies and strengthening the Canadian skill base in space systems engineering. According to Wikipedia the institute “has seen a number of firsts: world’s first microwave-powered aircraft, the world’s first engine-powered ornithopter (both inventions of James DeLaurier) and Canada’s first space telescope MOST.” Areas of expertise include aircraft design (particularly at subsonic speeds), flight simulation, space robotics, micro satellite technology, computational fluid dynamics and nuclear fusion. The facility has close relationships with Bombardier, NASA Ames, and MD Robotics (formerly Spar Aerospace). 

• The University of Waterloo – Home of the University of Waterloo Mars Rover Team which competed in the 2011 University Rover Challenge, an annual event organized by the US based Mars Society. 

• The University of Western Ontario (UWO) Centre for Planetary Science & Exploration – Focused on building planetary science, exploration and space systems design.

• The University of Western Ontario (UWO) Canadian Lunar Research Network (CLRN) - A network of people from a range of professions (scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs), from a variety of organizations (academia, industry and government) and from all across Canada focused on Moon research.

• The York University Faculty of Science and Engineering - Has contributed the Phoenix Scout Mission, SCISAT (the Canadian Space Agency mission to research the ozone layer) the Canadian WINDII instrument (on NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite) and the Canadian OSIRIS instrument (for Sweden’s Odin satellite). Also home of the York University Rover Team which also competed in the 2011 University Rover Challenge, an annual event organized by the US based Mars Society.

There are certainly more, but this short list serves as a useful introduction to some of the areas being investigated within Canadian universities.

Canadian businesses focused on the space systems industry and technically focused business incubators looking for intelligent and high quality employees might want to consider setting up offices along the bus routes going into these facilities.