Univ of Waterloo recruits Arthur Carty to head up new institute in nanotechnology

Initial two-year term

After 14 years in the bureaucracy of Ottawa, Dr Arthur Carty is returning to his roots. The former president of the National Research Council (NRC) and national science advisor has been tagged to head up the new Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology (WIN) as its executive director for an initial two-year term. Reporting to the deans of science and engineering, Carty takes on a host of responsibilities including the development of a vision and research directions for WIN and establishing a graduate program in nanotechnology.

Carty will also oversee WIN's emergence in a $120-million Quantum-Nano Centre where it will co-locate with the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) and work to create research linkages internally, nationally and internationally. Prior to taking the helm at the NRC in 1995, Carty spent 27 years at the Univ of Waterloo as a chemistry professor and senior administrator including dean of research.

After four turbulent years as Canada's national science advisor, Carty says he welcomes the opportunity to work again within an academic environment in an emerging field that holds considerable potential in a wide range of areas.

"It fits the bill. I know the scene and have done a lot of work in nanotechnology," says Carty who officially begins his position May 1st. "Nanotechnology is interdisciplinary by its nature so I'll be building teams in areas where we can make a major impact in different disciplines … Nanotechnology lends itself to people working together."

For the Univ of Waterloo, attracting Carty to lead WIN's evolution is a major coup. The university was one of several organizations that approached Carty when word spread that he was retiring from the public service following the government's controversial decision to close the Office of the National Science Advisor (ONSA) (R$, January 21 & March 11/08). While Carty's participation in the development of a national nanotechnology strategy (never implemented) was a strong selling point, his expertise on the international stage and management of complex R&D operations were particularly valued.

"Carty's interest in nanotechnology helped in our decision to recruit him but the fact that he is one of the most talented leaders in the country was even more important. When we found out he was available we jumped at him," says engineering dean Dr Adel Sedra. "We needed high-level leadership so we're very excited about Arthur's agreement to come here ... We need him to provide leadership to the various nanogroups, applying for large infrastructure and connecting researchers in the university with industry."

Since the inauguration of the undergraduate nanotechnology program, U of W assembled a group of about 25 researchers spread across the engineering, science and chemistry departments. That number will increase by 30 as the graduate program is unveiled. The engineering department will add professors to teach and research nano-based chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer and electrical engineering. WIN is the vehicle to bring the faculty members together into a collaborative entity so that graduate education and research programs can be undertaken.

"The Institute is a vehicle to bring faculty members into a collaborative entity to allow them to develop research programs and undertake graduate education," says VP research George Dixon. "Dr Carty is a world leader in science policy in looking at how science and technology contribute to science and society. There's no downside to that and we're happy to see him join us."

University becoming major nanotech player

The creation of WIN is the latest development in the U of W's strategy for becoming a major force in nanotechnology R&D. The three-year-old undergraduate program has brought in significant new resources under the leadership of the science and engineering departments. The decision to create a new Institute, graduate program, external linkages and a focus on applications represent a major move forward. Once it is completed and fully functional, close to $200 million will have been devoted to WIN. That includes the $120-million cost of constructing the facility as well as approximately $40 million in equipment. WIN's co-location with the IQC also offers considerable potential for developing expertise in nanotechnology as it relates to information technology and engineering — the U of W's largest areas of research expertise.

Carty will also be responsible for building bridges to other major nanotechnology research centres both within Canada and abroad and determine which niche areas are best suited to U of W's strengths and future potential. Nationally, that means forging collaborative linkages with National Institute for Nanotechnology at the Univ of Alberta, NanoQuebec, and the Univs of McMaster and Toronto. Internationally, opportunities will be explored with several nations including Germany, the UK, China, India and Brazil.

"Nanotechnology across Canada is about 30% bionano," says Dixon. "Although we're interested in bionano, we have strength in nano IT and nano materials. We're also establishing a new school of pharmacy which will be the first in Canada for 45 years. We're looking to develop nano pharma research and establish relationships between pharmacy and engineering that can lead to nano medical devices and nano drug delivery.

The Quantum-Nano Centre is one of the largest and most complex facilities the U of W has ever attempted. Since it was first conceived, costs have escalated from an initial projection of $70 million, due to increasingly stringent specifications, additional staff, an increase in the size of the facility and inflation. Delays also forced the IQC to move to temporary headquarters until the new Centre is completed.

Carty says he is looking forward to developing the new Institute and leveraging the U of W's strong entrepreneurial tradition.

"It's an unusual situation. There's an abundance of resources," he says. "Waterloo has been very entrepreneurial since it was founded and I want to help keep that tradition going. We'll seize every opportunity to spin off and license."

In addition to his main duties developing WIN, Carty will spend about 10% of his time advising the university's president on international S&T policy and will be a research professor within the chemistry department.

"I have lots of energy and will maintain a lot of my Ottawa connections. I'm also open to extending my two-year term," he says.

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