News Release
The Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Eric Newell, O.C., FCAE, A.O.E., as Chair of the Expert Panel on Understanding the Potential Impacts of Energy Technologies on the Oil Sands Development. The Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of Natural Resources Canada, has asked the Council of Canadian Academies to assess the potential impacts of energy technologies on the oil sands development.
As Chair of the Council’s Expert Panel, Dr. Newell will work with a multidisciplinary group of experts, to be appointed by the Council’s Board of Governors, to address the following question: How could new and existing technologies be used to reduce the environmental footprint of oil sands development on air, water, and land?
Dr. Newell is a former Chancellor of the University of Alberta and former Chairman and CEO of Syncrude. Dr. Newell began his career as a business executive with Imperial Oil and Esso and has played a key role on the National Oil Sands Task Force. A tireless community leader and promoter of professional opportunities for Aboriginal Canadians, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1999. Read Dr. Newell’s full bio.
The Council, under the guidance of its Scientific Advisory Committee, is now assembling an expert panel to complete its assessment on potential impacts of energy technologies on the oil sands development. The panel will consist of experts from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds to ensure the most authoritative, credible, and independent response to the question.
For continued updates on the status of the assessment, visit the Understanding the Potential Impacts of Energy Technologies on the Oil Sands Development page.