Strategic Plan
2025–2029 Strategic Plan
Director's message
Radioisotopes can provide powerful insights into the history of the natural world and how it changes over time. Measuring these rare, unstable forms of elements allows scientists to determine the age of materials, trace their origins, and track how they move through air, water, and living systems.
At the André E. Lalonde National Facility for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AEL-AMS), we are dedicated to measuring these naturally occurring radioisotopes with high sensitivity and reliability, supporting scientific research and projects that serve the public interest.
The AEL-AMS is a national research resource that supports universities, government agencies, and industry across Canada and internationally. Our primary focus is to ensure that our measurements and results are precise, traceable, and clearly communicated. We support research in climate and environmental science, archeology, energy, and public health. Increasingly we inform policy and resource management.
The samples we analyze are both familiar and fascinating. We measure radioisotopes to distinguish fossil fuel emissions from natural carbon sources, determine when rainwater entered groundwater systems, and analyze archaeological materials such as bones, charcoal, and plant remains to better understand human history. We process samples of tree rings, soils and sediments that record environmental change, wildlife tissues that help track migration patterns, biofuels or industrial materials used to verify renewable carbon content, and more.
Our work extends beyond the laboratory, through hands-on training, and laboratory tours for students, visiting researchers, and partners. These experiences help to demystify radioisotope science, highlight the care and safety built into our work, and give students direct exposure to unique national research capabilities.
Every result from our national research facility reflects the dedication of our professional team and our commitment to quality and transparency. We work closely with our users to ensure that radioisotope data are meaningful, and accurate, with impact beyond the laboratory.
Sincerely,
Len Wassenaar
Executive Director, AEL-AMS
About us
Contact us
André E. Lalonde National Facility
Advanced Research Complex
25 Templeton St.
Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5 Canada
Phone: (613) 562-5800 ext. 4846
General inquires:
[email protected]
Service inquiries & sample submission:
[email protected]
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
