Smith re-appointed as SNOLAB Director

The SNOLAB Institute Board of Directors is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Dr. Nigel Smith to a second five-year term as Director of SNOLAB. This appointment comes after a very successful inaugural term that resulted in the first scientific results coming from SNOLAB experiments. 



SNOLAB is Canada’s world-class deep underground science laboratory specializing in neutrino and dark matter physics. Located 2 km below the surface in the Vale Creighton Mine near Sudbury Ontario Canada, SNOLAB is an expansion of the existing facilities constructed for the highly successful Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) solar neutrino experiment. The primary scientific emphasis at SNOLAB is on searches for dark matter and studies of the fundamental properties of neutrinos.

“It’s a great pleasure to accept re-appointment as Director for another term, and I am delighted that the Board and SNOLAB community have provided me with this opportunity. Canada has a fabulous team at SNOLAB, a fabulous science programme, and a fabulous facility attracting international experiments to Sudbury; it is a real pleasure to work with the SNOLAB team and community. The next five years will be a really important time for us as we deliver new science results and develop our science programme, and I really look forward to being a part of this exciting period.”



Under Nigel’s leadership, the SNOLAB experimental programme has grown to include deep sub-surface life, geology and life sciences experiments; he has also worked to increase the partnerships with other innovation centres across the country and played a lead role in attracting $46 million in funding to SNOLAB over the last six years. 



Dr. Pekka Sinervo, Chair of the SNOLAB Institute Board announced,  “The SNOLAB Board of Directors is very pleased that Nigel has accepted appointment for another five years at the helm of SNOLAB.  Nigel has provided outstanding leadership over the last five years, developing a very strong science program that has already produced world-leading results on the search for dark matter.  With several of the largest SNOLAB experiments starting up over the next several years, Nigel will guide SNOLAB to further world-leading measurements and discoveries.  We are fortunate to have him as one of the leaders of the Canadian subatomic physics community.”

Nigel’s vision for this next term is to make SNOLAB the partner of choice for underground physics projects, providing world-class infrastructure and delivering world-leading science. To realize this vision, Smith has established SNOLAB’s mission to enable, spearhead, catalyze and promote underground science, whilst inspiring both the public and future professionals in all associated fields.