Building Canada’s physics leadership
These days, very few astroparticle physics experiments at SNOLAB or other Canadian sites take place without involvement from the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, based at Queen’s. Named in honour of the Nobel laureate and directed by Queen’s professor Tony Noble, the institute connects scientists across the country, strengthening national collaboration and fostering international projects that push the field forward.
“Canada is home to extraordinary scientific infrastructure, but it’s the people who transform those resources into discovery,” says Noble. “The McDonald Institute brings together some of the most curious, driven, and talented researchers, engineers, technicians, and students to take on the some of the most complex scientific questions, and to build collaborations that shape the breakthroughs of tomorrow.”
The McDonald Institute launched in 2016 with a $63.8 million federal investment that supported major new hires. It has since partnered with 11 universities and six research institutes, helping to double the number of faculty in Canada active in astroparticle physics from 22 to 48, twelve of whom are at Queen’s. McDonald Institute also secured a Canada Excellence Research Chair, a competitive national program that recruits international field-leading researchers. This growth has positioned Canada and the McDonald Institute at the forefront of shaping the future of particle astrophysics.
“Tony’s insight and creativity have led the development of the Institute since its inception and we are very grateful for the work he has done to establish astroparticle physics as an area in which Canada is a world leader,” says McDonald.
Projects linked to the McDonald Institute are also building momentum across Canada. The $55 million US-Canada SuperCDMS collaboration is searching for dark matter particles at SNOLAB using semi-conductor detectors, the P-ONE project is building a massive neutrino telescope underwater in the Pacific Ocean, and the PICO experiment, where Noble plays a leading role, is hunting for dark matter using a bubble chamber filled with superheated liquid that captures rare particle interactions.
Students are a major part of this success too. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate students at Queen’s, along with those working with McDonald Institute partners, are gaining the skills to tackle complex problems and lead innovation. Drawn from Canada and abroad, this young, highly skilled community represents the next generation of researchers. Many go on to careers at universities, research labs, government agencies, and in sectors such as finance and technology worldwide, where they apply their training in problem solving, critical thinking, and evidence-based decision making to lead and innovate.
The institute also engages communities across Canada in STEM through camps and school visits, with a focus on promoting equity and broadening access to science education.
In recognition of its impact, the Government of Canada recently awarded the McDonald Institute $45.5 million to expand its research and training programs, a major investment that strengthens both national capacity and Queen’s leadership in astroparticle physics. The university community will celebrate the investment and the 10-year anniversary of the Nobel Prize on Oct. 17, 2025.
Together, Queen’s, the McDonald Institute, and affiliate institutions nationwide, are ensuring Canada continues to play an outsized role in deepening our understanding of the Sun, the distant stars, and everything in between.