Matter and energy
Star struck
All the chemical elements that exist in the universe had to come from somewhere. Kim Venn, a UVic astronomer and the Canada Research Chair in Observational Astrophysics, wants to know how and when they were created.
By studying stars of different ages, Venn can reconstruct the formation of the elements that make up our world and help answer the question of how we came into being. Learn more about Dr. Venn's research.
Thinking big—and small
Some of the most profound questions in science are about the nature of matter. What is matter made of? What holds it together? How do its properties change under different conditions? Can we alter those properties to create new and useful materials? The answers lie in the depths of outer and inner space.
UVic astronomers are world-renowned for their work in the formation of galaxies, stellar structure and evolution, and theoretical and observational cosmology. They work closely with colleagues at the nearby Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics to form one of the largest concentrations of astronomy talent in Canada.
Looking inwards to the world of quarks and leptons, UVic physicists play key roles in several international collaborations. They have close associations with TRIUMF in Vancouver, a national subatomic physics laboratory co-managed by UVic.
UVic materials scientists and engineers use technologies such as nanotechnology, spintronics, photonics, supramolecular design and advanced crystal growth to investigate new materials for applications as diverse as manufacturing, electronics and biotechnology.
Learn more about Matter and Energy research at UVic:
When particles collide
What kind of matter makes up the universe? Where does the mass of an electron come from? Are there other space dimensions? UVic physicist Michel Lefebvre is one of a team of UVic physicists looking for answers through ATLAS, the particle detector component of the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s newest and largest particle accelerator in Switzerland.
Lefebvre was instrumental in organizing Canada’s participation in ATLAS and led a $5-million UVic project to design and build parts of the powerful detector, which will help scientists probe the deepest secrets of the universe. Read more about ATLAS at UVic.
Radical research
Imagine custom-designing previously unknown molecules and creating completely new materials with unusual and useful properties. That’s what UVic chemist Robin Hicks and his team are doing with a class of chemical compounds known as “stable radicals.” These compounds have unpaired electrons, yet are remarkably stable, giving them technologically useful properties such as magnetism.
The work has a wide range of potential applications—from the creation of advanced new polymers, to the use of nanotechnology to build cancer-fighting molecular robots, to the development of alternative energy solutions.
Crystal clear science
From watches and cell phones to supercomputers and solar panels, almost all electronic devices rely on the semiconducting properties of single crystal materials.
Sadik Dost is an international leader in crystal growth—the processes used to produce these materials. As the Canada Research Chair in Semiconductor Crystal Growth, Dost studies the challenges associated with growing reproducible, high-quality bulk semiconducting crystals.
The advances he has made—typically working with industrial partners—have applications in a variety of fields, including medical imaging, solar energy conversion and security devices. Read more about Dr. Dost's award-winning research.