Neutrons Canada Calls for Neutron Community Cohesion at the CINS Annual General Meeting

Neutrons Canada reaffirmed its strong commitment to Canada’s neutron beam user community at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Institute for Neutron Scattering (CINS), held on November 14 and 15 at the Université de Montréal. The meeting brought together faculty, students and facility personnel from across the country, highlighting the growing optimism behind national efforts to rebuild and expand Canadian capabilities for research relying on neutron beams.

John Root, Executive Director of Neutrons Canada, provided an update on the organization’s achievements over the past year and outlined priority actions for the year ahead. Throughout his remarks, Root emphasized the importance of close cooperation between Neutrons Canada, CINS, and the broader user community in advancing shared goals.

Highlights From the Past Year

Root reported progress in national coordination, advocacy, and international partnerships. A few examples included:

• Published the bilingual Canadian Neutron Long-Range Plan (2025–2035), developed by the neutron community, to guide Canadian efforts over the next decade.
• Updated Neutrons Canada’s website with content focused on socioeconomic impact to support government outreach.
• Supported a national proposal to the CFI for neutron beam infrastructure.
• Co-sponsored the 11th International Meeting of the Union for Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Sources (UCANS11), held in Vancouver.
• Completed a partnership with the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (UK) that provided Canadian researchers with beam time opportunities and travel support.

“These activities reflect the resilience of our community,” Root noted. “They are possible only because Neutrons Canada, CINS and other key stakeholders continue to work hand-in-hand to deliver research capabilities that Canada needs.”

Looking Ahead: A Shared Vision

Root emphasized that the coming year will be crucial for shaping Canada’s neutron future. Key focus areas include:

• Securing federal funding support by leveraging continued national collective efforts.
• Working more closely with CINS to strengthen engagement with the pan-Canadian user community
• Evolving Neutrons Canada’s role in support of member-led initiatives, such as the Canadian Neutron Beam Laboratory, and exploring new opportunities to contribute to the national neutron beam program.

Root emphasized that these priorities will rely on continued collaboration: “Our ability to deliver on the Long-Range Plan depends on maintaining a cohesive community voice. CINS is an essential partner in this effort.”