UFV Luminescence Dating Lab doubles capacity with new Riso TL/OSL Reader

The Luminescence Dating Laboratory (LDL) at the University of the Fraser Valley has doubled its research capacity with the installation of a second Riso TL/OSL reader, funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Installed in September 2025, the new instrument enhances the lab’s ability to analyze sediment samples and estimate their burial ages — an essential part of studying Earth’s environmental and archaeological history — and strengthens UFV’s role as a key contributor to Quaternary science, archaeology, and luminescence dating research in Canada and internationally.

Postdoctoral researchers Dr. Sam Woor and Dr. Maria Schaarschmidt, along with Prof. Olav Lian, the Luminescence Dating Laboratory director, led the installation, with support from UFV’s IT, Facilities, and Logistics teams.

This new equipment allows the LDL to support more projects, including studies on dune formation in North America and Tasmania, river migration in the Yukon and British Columbia, archaeological excavations in South Africa, and ancient coastal landscapes in Antarctica.

The LDL team extends sincere thanks to UFV’s Research Office for their support in securing CFI funding, and the Logistics, Facilities and IT departments for helping with the delivery and set up of the instrument.

https://www.ufv.ca/ldl

For more information, contact Maria Schaarschmidt at maria.schaarschmidt@ufv.ca

10/31/2025