Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), in collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Neutron Scattering (CINS), hosted a successful virtual workshop titled, Shaping the Future of Neutron Scattering in Canada: Workshop on Applications, Instruments, and Research Reactor Requirements (https://cins.ca/workshop2025/). The event drew 43 virtual participants from across Canada – a reflection of the great enthusiasm within the Canadian scientific community for such a facility.
To address the evolving needs of neutron scattering applications, updated instrumentation, and the technical requirements for a new Canadian research reactor, the workshop brought together academic researchers, students, and industry leaders. Based on insights from the 2015 CINS Long-Range Plan, discussions focused on the new infrastructure meeting both present and future needs of the scientific community.
Part of the agenda included a background presentation on CNL’s broader initiative—a consideration of a new research reactor for Canada that has been in progress since 2021. The meeting also included parallel sessions covering five main instrument-based topics—diffraction, spectroscopy, small-angle scattering, reflectometry, and imaging and radiography instruments. Leading each session, expert co-chairs guided discussions on current scientific applications, future research directions, instrumentation needs, and reactor requirements.
Underscoring the significance of the event, Prof. Drew Marquardt, President of CINS, shared:
The Shaping the Future of Neutron Scattering in Canada workshop has been a critical event, uniting researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to collaboratively define a technical path forward for neutron scattering in our nation. The insights discussed here are instrumental as Canada advances towards establishing a new research reactor, ensuring Canada remains at the forefront of scientific innovation. These are important conversations to have with the Canadian neutron scattering community, and we truly appreciate CNL involving CINS in this process.
Dr. Zahra Yamani, representing CNL and a co-organizer of the workshop, echoed this sentiment:
We are thankful for CINS as an essential partner in making this workshop a success. The event brought together Canadian neutron scattering experts from across the country, marking an important early step in defining the needs and requirements for a potential new research reactor. These discussions are vital for laying the groundwork for detailed instrument and reactor specifications for advancing science and technology by means of neutron scattering.
The event wrapped up with a summary session, where session chair rapporteurs from each parallel session presented key takeaways. Notable outcomes included updated recommendations for neutron scattering priorities, an overview of emerging applications, and valuable community input on the future of neutron science in Canada.
Moving forward, CNL and CINS will collaborate to incorporate the insights from this workshop into a report. This report will help guide the next steps in determining concrete details for neutron beam instrumentation and infrastructure requirements. The organizers look forward to continued engagement with the neutron scattering community to ensure that Canadian researchers have access to world-class neutron capabilities for decades to come.
For more information about the workshop and future initiatives, please contact the event organizers, Prof. Marquardt (drew.marquardt@uwindsor.ca) or Dr. Yamani (zahra.yamani@cnl.ca), directly.
