THE
MacEngineer McMaster University Faculty of Engineering
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Vol.31 No.3
Fall 2006
Message from the Dean Mo Elbestawi, Dean of Engineering
I am pleased to share with you the expansion plans for the Faculty of Engineering. With the creation of new graduate schools, we are in need of physical space for these programs. The School for Biomedical Engineering and the School for Engineering Practice, Mechatronics, and Energy Studies will have space in a new building, along with first year undergraduates and the administration areas for my offices and that of the Associate Dean of Research. This stand-alone, 120,000 sq.ft. building will be located on the south west corner of campus facing Main Street. The building
A Message From the Associate Dean
Peter Smith
Associate Dean (Academic)
Engineering and International Studies No one can deny that the effects of globalization have been profound. This is particularly true in the engineering profession, where both large and small companies routinely draw talent and resources from the entire world, with little regard for national boundaries. It is not unusual to find, for example, complex systems designed by North American or European teams, manufactured in China, programmed using software developed in Russia, sold in South America, with technical support from India. In such an environment, engineers must be able to function in a multitude of cultural settings and be able to coordinate widely dispersed and hetero-
geneous teams. In an age of just-in-time and lean manufacturing, engineers must also be able to manage projects in a manner that accounts for costs and delays in the delivery of components. The world is also facing environmental challenges that are intrinsically global. The control of greenhouse gases and air pollution, the treatment of contaminated groundwater, the scarcity of potable water, infrastructures needed to withstand extreme weather due to climate change, the development and containment of genetically modified foods, etc., are all engineering problems that require international teamwork. With all this in mind, the Faculty of Engineering will be introducing new programs in Engineering & International Studies to train future engineers to better deal with the complexities associated with global project management. Since the development of core engineering skills is already present in our regular four-year programs, the content of which must be retained, the new programs will only require additional studies that focus on skills and knowledge that are not part
of the regular curricula. These include an understanding of, and a sensitivity to, the different cultural, political, religious and historical backgrounds of potential collaborators, as well as additional technical training in areas that are particularly important in international settings, such as international project management and supply chain management. Subject to the usual University approvals, these programs, unique in North America, will begin in September 2007. They will be modelled on our very successful Engineering & Society programs, whereby students combine an engineering discipline with a fifth year of study, and enrol in some required courses and a selection of electives that could include languages and other courses that focus on internationalization. The students will also be strongly encouraged to participate in McMaster’s Engineers Without Borders chapter and in the Faculty of Engineering’s Study Abroad Program (details available at http://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/esap). Those electing to participate in our co-op program will also be encouraged to select at least one work placement outside Canada.
Future Engineering Building
will exemplify collaborative, multi-disci-
will reflect the important leadership role
plinary partnerships and commitment to
that engineers play in creating sustainable
the broader community, and will allow the
communities. It will meet or exceed Silver
Faculty of Engineering to foster innovative
Level Rating of LEED.
technical research and education pro-
The building itself will be a teaching tool
grams. The building is designed to create a
that will contribute to the education of both
comfortable place to learn and work while
students and visitors to it. Toward this end,
simultaneously demonstrating state-of-
Alumni Profiles
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Engineering News
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Virtual Reality at Mac
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there will be the capability to both mea-
MES News
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the-art environmentally conscious design
sure and observe the building’s many high
Alumni Grapevine
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and function. The design of the building and
performance engineering systems.
Newsbrief
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its operations will ensure minimum impact
Hey Alumni!
on the environment. As a model facility, the building will showcase environmentally responsible and sustainable design, and
Research & External Relations Update
Peter Mascher
Associate Dean
Increased internationalization of the Faculty has recently been established as a priority area for expanded activity. In the Spring issue of the MacEngineer, Peter Smith (Associate Dean, Academic) reported on the successful launch of the “Study Abroad” program and a report on the experiences of the first cohort in Volgograd, Russia can be found elsewhere in this issue. From time to time, I will introduce some of the international academic institutions whose representatives visited us and with whom we are developing ties, both in education and research. The focus of this article will be on France. In April, we hosted Latifa Rezg, Associate
Director for International Relations, Ecole Nationale d’Ingenieurs de Metz (ENIM, http://www.enim.fr). McMaster Engineering has a long-standing relationship with ENIM and at the present time, two French students are working in laboratories of the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI). The strong mutual interest in the area of materials and manufacturing bodes well for a much expanded collaboration in the future. Through our partnership with ENIM, McMaster has been invited to be one of the founding institutions of the Cartagena Network of Engineering (CNE), an international organization aimed at improving the training and education of engineers in the sectors of industrial engineering, production systems, and mechanical engineering.Another longstanding partner in France is the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (INPG, http://www.inpg.fr/), particularly in the area of materials science and engineering. Professor Yves Brechet visited in August and expressed significant interest in a proposal to enhance our mutual interactions at all levels. continued on page 18
Have you got something to say, or any other news? We would like to hear from you. Contact Carm Vespi: Tel: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24906 Fax: (905) 546-5492 e-mail: vespi@mcmaster.ca website: www.eng.mcmaster.ca The MacEngineer is published by the Engineering Faculty for its alumni. Distribution assistance is provided by the Alumni Office. The MacEngineer is printed and produced by: Editor: Carm Vespi Art Direction and Design: Jay Primeau Contributing Writers: Administrative Coordinators, Terry Milson, Trudi Down, Carm Vespi, Eugene Nakonechny PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063416 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 1280 MAIN STREET WEST HAMILTON ON L8S 4L7 e-mail: vespi@mcmaster.ca
Alumni Profiles Mary Harper — “You Never Know Where Your Career Will Go” After finishing high school, Mary Harper faced a dilemma – she wanted to attend university but didn’t know what she wanted to do after graduating.That being the case, which program should she take? Always good at math and sciences, Harper decided in favour of engineering. “It provided the most options, in my view,” she says.“I chose Civil Engineering because it interested me. While growing up, I was always interested in how buildings and structures were designed and built.” Harper graduated with a BA in Civil Engineering and Management in 1982, and an MA in Business Administration, also from McMaster, in 1984. After a short time with Ontario Hydro, she joined S.C. Johnson and Son Inc.in 1984 and has pursued a management career with the company every since. “By the time I was 38, I was running the S.C. Johnson company in the Philippines, and then had responsible for managing groups of companies in South East Asia. Later, I was
responsible for our subsidiaries in the former Soviet Union, based in Moscow.” Now back at head office in Racine, Wisconsin, Harper is Director, Global Pest Control, Research, Development & Engineering.This entails being responsible for a team of 75 scientists and engineers, and the new product development efforts in support of the company’s global brands of Raid. An engineering degree teaches the steps of good problem solving techniques, she says: how to systematically take a problem, analyze it and come up with a solution or recommendation. Engineering also teaches the basic fundamentals of project management, a critical skill for business.“My technical training has always been an asset, whether that has been in managing a factory operation, overseeing new office facilities, or managing a division of
Greg McNab — From Engineering to Law ... “It isn’t as odd as one might think,” claims Greg McNab, mechanical engineering and management graduate. McNab, who graduated in 1988, had considered law as a possible eventual career even before attending McMaster to enter Engineering. Originally he thought he’d like to practice intellectual property law, and he saw engineering as a good foundation for this specialty. After graduating, McNab joined Hamiltonbased Dofasco, a company he had set his sights on during university. But the idea of practicing law still persisted. After Dofasco, he joined the Ontario Provincial Police and worked in a vari-
4 The MacEngineer
ety of areas, including accident reconstruction. After seven years with the OPP, he decided the time was right to enter law school. He graduated from the University of Windsor law program in 1999, specializing in corporate securities and tax, and started to work for McCarthy Tétrault LLP, the largest law firm in Canada, in the business law group at their Toronto office after working in the Corporate Finance Branch of the Ontario Securities Commission. While at McCarthy Tétrault, he was seconded to Stelco, another Hamilton based steel company, as their sole in-house counsel during their recent restructuring. In 2004, he left the Toronto
scientists and engineers in new product development. I’ve used the core skills of problem solving and project management in every job I’ve ever had.” Harper chose to attend McMaster because of the management component to the engineering program, and because of the common program in first year. “(The common program) allows a student to consider all engineering disciplines before having to decide which one to pursue. For me, this was important.” Whether it is late night study sessions or donut and coffee runs to Tim Horton’s, her fondest memories of McMaster are all based on the great friends she made.“Our engineering and management class still gets together a couple of times a year! They are all truly friends for life. With them, I had some of my best experiences at Mac.”
firm to become Stelco’s full time Associate General Counsel. Most recently, McNab has opened his own legal practice in Toronto, focusing on the areas of corporate finance, financial services and corporate compliance.“I also help developing businesses manage the legal risks associated with their business in what I think is a novel and cost effective manner.” So, has the engineering degree been of benefit to his career at all? “Very much so,” McNab says.“From little things like teaching study habits that later on served me well in law school, to being able to sit in technical meetings at with clients like Dofasco and Stelco and understand the legal, business and engineer-
Jeff Chahley — A Unique Program Offers Memorable Opportunities “The travel has made the world seem a bit smaller, and I realize that the challenges and opportunities are similar regardless of where you are located geographically.” Jeff Chahley does a lot of traveling for the North America Cheese and Dairy Sector & Latin America Region of Kraft Foods, based in Northfield, Illinois. As the Global CI Director for this sector, he is responsible for guiding and supporting global supply chain manufacturing facilities, for ensuring a culture that fosters employee engagement and empowerment, and for delivering sustainable business results. “I have recently had the opportunity to visit Argentina, Peru, Columbia, and Costa Rica, and there are plans to visit Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico over the next few months.” Following graduation from the mechanical engineering and management program in 1988, Chahley joined Procter and Gamble here in Hamilton, and was with the company in various manufacturing roles for almost ten years. His association with Kraft Foods began in 1997, where he started as Production Manager in Scarborough before becoming Plant Manager for the facility. A life-long love of old cars led him to explore things mechanical, and is probably responsible for the decision to take mechanical engineering at university, he says. McMaster’s unique Engineering and Management program was a natural choice, since it of-
fers the best of both worlds – engineering and business courses.“Mac also had a very good reputation as an engineering University and, to make the decision even easier, it was a very nice campus.” The degree gave him skills in logical thought process, analytical/troubleshooting, and overall business awareness, he says. Courses such as Organization Development, Psychology, and Personnel Relations also provided a good foundation of social skills to begin managing, developing, and leading people. “The uniqueness of this degree was well suited to a manufacturing environment, given its focus on business, people, and asset development.” Chahley lives in Gurnee, Illinois (just north of Chicago) with his wife Cindy Chippindale (EngPhy ’88, M.Eng ’91). Cindy works for Motorola in nearby Libertyville.The couple enjoys kayaking, golfing, biking, and skiing. He continues to be an avid car racing fan and can often be found driving a NASCAR race car at 160 mph around Pocono International Raceway. Most of his memories of Mac relate to Orientation and subsequent Frosh Weeks. He particularly remembers representing the 1st Year Engineers as Super Plumber (SP) in 1985 and 1987.“It was very rewarding and an honour to be a key part of the orientation process. To this day, I still have my red coveralls from 1985 and my SP hard hats! I just can’t seem to throw the memories away.”
ing issues at hand.” During his stint with the Ontario Provincial Police, he used engineering skills extensively in the field of accident reconstruction. An engineering background has also been of assistance in better understanding the prospectus disclosure issues associated with technology companies, and the software behind electronic trading systems. “And I still use my engineering knowledge on a regular basis in connection with one of my favourite hobbies, motorcycle racing.” McNab says the five years at Mac were some of the best in his life.The academic
challenge alone made the whole process worthwhile, he claims. But more importantly, it taught him some very valuable lessons about friendship, professionalism and personal motivation. “I feel like I shared a whole lifetime in those five years with the people I was close to.” When not spending time with his seven-year-old son Josh, McNab enjoys traveling, running and, most particularly, sport bike motorcycle racing. “I race purely for fun, but it’s challenging. And it can be painful and expensive when you crash!”
In Memoriam Jean Hodgins 1913 – 2006 Jean Hodgins, wife of McMaster’s first dean of engineering, passed away peacefully in Port Perry on July 2, 2006. She was 93. The John Hodgins Engineering Building is named in honour of Jack Hodgins who came to McMaster in 1955 as professor of chemical engineering. He became director of engineering studies and was the founding dean of the Faculty. He helped to design the building that in 1978 was officially named after him. The naming took place during the spring convocation that marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering. Following her husband’s death, Jean Hodgins established the John Hodgins Memorial Scholarship to recognize the contributions made by him in founding the Faculty. Mrs. Hodgins is survived by daughter Susan Moss and her son-in-law Brian, and two granddaughters, Deborah and Heather Dolson. If desired, memorials can be made to the John Hodgins Scholarship Fund.
Mamdouh Shoukri
Doug Barber
McMaster Appointees on Provincial Council Vice-president of research and international affairs Mamdouh Shoukri and Doug Barber, distinguished professorin-residence in the Faculty of Engineering and a member of the University’s Board of Governors, have been appointed to the Ontario Research and Innovation Council by Premier Dalton McGuinty. The Premier, who is also
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ENGINEERING NEWS Solar Car Participates in Energy Expo On the weekend of August 12 and 13, the McMaster Solar Car Project (MSCP) team took its solar car, Phoenix, to the Energy Solutions Expo in Tiverton, Ontario to educate the public on renewable energy.The car was displayed in the transportation pavilion along with the University of Waterloo’s solar car for the duration of the weekend. The Expo’s mandate is to bring together the business, education, government, and non-profit sectors to educate the public about energy conservation, healthy homes, healthy lifestyles and renewable energy solutions, and to connect consumers with marketers of related products and services. The Energy Solutions Expo and the McMaster Solar Car Project joined forces to spread the news about renewable energy with the primary focus on solar energy. It’s a timely issue given the high electricity consumption experienced during this year’s hot summer. MSCP team members engage in a variety of educational activities. In addition to the Expo, the MSCP team assisted in McMaster’s Venture and L.E.A.P. 2006 summer camps, and regularly makes visits and presentations to local schools. MSCP has a new car under construction, called Hyperion.
Mac Takes Lead Paper Research What we need are paper products like packaging and protective clothing that do more than passively block pathogens. We need materials that actively de-activate pathogens and indicate to the user how they are working. Researchers delving into the idea of bioactive papers say such products will be available in the future. Bioactive paper is paper that will detect and capture or de-active harmful water-based and airborne pathogens. McMaster University is the lead institution in a research program that will take paper-based consumer items beyond their current role of passive barriers or filters. In 2005 McMaster, along with 9 Canadian universities and 9 companies, partnered with the federal and Ontario governments to form SENTINEL, Canadian Network for the Development and Use of Bioactive Paper. Dr. Robert Pelton, of McMaster’s Department of Chemical Engineering, is the Scientific Director of the SENTINEL Network. Currently, the biggest activity in terms of research is being done at McMaster, he says, and in addition to himself, the researchers include Carlos Filipe (chemical engineering), John Brennan and Michael Brook (chemistry), and Yingfu Li (biochemistry & biomedical science). The research efforts at McMaster focus on how to attach bio-recognition agents to paper, and developing fluorescent detection techniques. According to Dr. Carlos Filipe, the challenges are complex and
intertwined: they need to find a molecule or organism that will do the detection; they have to find a way to put it physically onto the paper; and they have to get it to generate a visible signal, such as turning the paper product a different colour. It’s easier, Pelton adds, to come up with applications. For example, future SARS masks could alert the wearer that bacteria are getting through the mask. In areas with unsanitary water, a bioactive paper strip dipped in small containers of water could remove pathogens and give the user a colour indication that the water is safe to drink. In restaurants and food packaging plants, a paper towel wiped along a counter would alert the user about contaminated food preparation surfaces. In all, the Network’s 24 researchers are involved in 22 projects. SENTINEL is a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) network with an annual budget of $2 million. The five-year grant includes 25% non-NSERC cash support from governments and founding industrial partners including Ahlstrom Research & Services, Buckman Laboratories International, Cascades Canada Inc, Fujifilm Dimatix Inc, Paprican, Stora Enso Oyj, Sun Chemical Corporation, Tembec Inc, and Weyerhaeuser Company. In addition to NSERC, funds (gnr1) have been received from Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Centre for Materials and Manufacturing.
Engineering Design Program in Development
For more information, please check the Web site at www.solarcar.mcmaster.ca
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Established in 2005 as a partnership between McMaster University and General Motors of Canada, the Centre for Engineering Design will enhance engineering design and innovation across engineering disciplines, as well as assist with the commercialization of products that arise from research and development. The Centre will be located in the McMaster School of Engineering Practice, and is sched-
uled to open in 2007. Dr. Vladimir Mahalec of the Department of Chemical Engineering is the new director for the Centre. The Centre is part of the McMaster School for Engineering Practice (MSEP), which is offering a one-year Master’s degree and a five-year B.Eng./Master of Engineering degree. The interdisciplinary program will focus on problem-based learning, and will take advantage
in Bioactive Krantzberg Joins New Great Lakes Group
Collaboration is key to the success of this venture, Pelton says.The Network is actively encouraging a collaborative research environment with its industrial partners.They will use the research and knowledge gained to develop proprietary bioactive paper products, such as food packaging, protective masks, air filters, water treatment for remote emergency situations, and disposable disinfecting towels. An equally important outcome, Pelton notes, is that the Canadian scientists and engineers who are trained in the SENTINEL Network will gain expertise in materials engineering and biological sciences.These skills are critical for the ongoing evolution of the pulp and paper industry as it progresses from a supplier of commodity pulp and paper goods to a supplier of higher-value products with advanced functionality. (gnr1) The National Research Council (NRC) of Canada Institute for Biological Sciences is participating as a research collaborator only.
of the synergies with other Centres within the MSEP, the Xerox Centre of Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the Centre for Engineering and Public Policy. The Centre plans to offer three programs starting in the fall of 2007: • Process Systems Design and Operation, • Sustainable Infrastructure, • Product Design. GM’s commitment to Engineering Design of $60 million includes computer-based design tools
that will help to train the next generation of engineering students.The design program will help students acquire key skills common to engineering design and its process. Existing graduate engineering design courses will be augmented by state-of-the-art specialized courses that are not currently available, which will be developed in cooperation with experts in their fields.
Gail Krantzberg has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes Observing System Regional Association (GLOS-RA), one of 11 regional groups of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and the only freshwater component. The newly-formed GLOS-RA will provide improved water management and data exchange across the international Great Lakes region, and develop new products to support research, management and the user communities.The information will be available to researchers and educators and to a wide range of stakeholders including the commercial shipping industry and recreational boating community. The GLOS is currently making plans for a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model for the St. Clair River - Lake St. Clair - Detroit River system.This modeling initiative is an important step in the implementation of a real time monitoring network for the waterway, which is needed by governments at the municipal, county, state/provincial, and federal levels to protect drinking water supplies for southeast Michigan and southwestern Ontario. McMaster’s Krantzberg is the director of the Dofasco Centre for Engineering and Public Policy. It is one of three centres that comprise the McMaster School for Engineering Practice, along with the Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the General Motors of Canada Centre for Engineering Design.
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ENGINEERING NEWS
McMaster-Mohawk Technology Program Receives Award Faculty Confers Honorary Degree Donald A. Pether, president and CEO of Dofasco, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) Degree during the June 2006 graduation ceremonies held in the Great Hall of Hamilton Place. He also gave the convocation address. Pether is a long-time supporter of McMaster and a member of the University’s Board of Governors. He also serves on the cabinet for the Athletics and Recreation Centre and the stadium campaign. “Our graduates can seek inspiration from our honorary degree recipient Don Pether,” said Mo Elbestawi, dean of engineering.“He has shown great leadership in industry as well as in society.The Faculty of Engineering, its faculty members, and students have all benefited from his foresight and support.” Pether became president of the Hamilton-based steel company in 2003 and recently guided the corporation through its acquisition by Arcelor S.A. In addition to participating in numerous industry-related associations and organizations, he is a governor of the Art Gallery of Hamilton, and co-chair of the Hamilton Civic Coalition. The Faculty of Engineering conferred degrees on 577 graduating students at its Spring Convocation.
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The Bachelor of Technology Partnership (http://btech.mcmastermohawk.ca) has been recognized by The Yves Landry Foundation, receiving its 2006 Innovative Manufacturing Technology Program Award: University Level.The award is given for the development of an innovative manufacturing program that matches skills development with industry requirements and measures student success and achievement. It will be presented at the Foundation’s annual STARS Technological Education Awards Gala in October in Toronto. McMaster and Mohawk initiated the partnership in 1997 with the Bachelor of Technology degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology. In 2005 the program was redesigned to offer an expanded set of advanced technology
courses which include the development of management skills.Two types of programs are now offered: two-year degree completion program and four-year fully integrated program. The degree-completion program is designed for technologists and internationally trained professionals with a college technology degree or equivalent. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree from McMaster. The program streams are manufacturing engineering technology, civil engineering infrastructure technology, and computing and information technology. The four-year fully integrated program is designed for entry directly from high school. Graduates earn both a Diploma in Technology from Mohawk and a Bachelor of Technology
McMaster’s Nuclear Tradition This past June, ten nuclear specialists became the first graduates of the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree program in nuclear engineering.The accredited program was developed as a result of the formation of the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE). Established in 2002, UNENE is a group of industries and academia that joined together Bill Garland to create a centre of nuclear expertise and to become a resource for succession planning within the industry. Partners include Ontario Power Generation, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., and Bruce Powers, along with 10 Canadian universities (www.unene.ca). McMaster has been involved
since its inception and UNENE is based at the University. McMaster’s Bill Garland, professor of engineering physics and a recent inductee as Fellow of the Canadian Nuclear Society, is the Network’s current executive director. “UNENE provides value to the industry,” Garland says. “It helps to provide highly qualified personnel and good research to enable good design and operation. But it also helps in making the critical end-oflife decisions.” For example, UNENE researchers gave input into the government decision about restarting Pickering A Units 2 and 3 reactors.The nuclear industry is currently dealing with a high number of professionals who are nearing retire-
MAC Prof New CSCE President
(B.Tech.) from McMaster. Specializations offered are process automation technology, biotechnology, and automotive and vehicle technology. It is planned that these programs will be offered in September 2007. Founded in 1998, the Yves Landry Foundation (http://ylandryfund.org) is named for the former Chrysler Canada president and CEO. The foundation provides the opportunity for business, education, and government to collectively be part of the solution to advance technological education and skills training in order to resolve the skilled labour shortages facing Canadian industries.
Continues ment, he adds.“We needed to link universities and industry to ensure that the expertise is passed along.” In addition to networking opportunities and the degree program, UNENE also provides monetary assistance for research. With funding from industry partners and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) amounting to $15 million annually, the Network supports six Industrial Research Chairs and five Associate Chairs along with the associated Postdoctoral Fellows and graduate students. Research is focused on such topics as reactor safety, nano-engineering of alloys, control and instrumentation, and risk-based life cycle management.
Calling All Alumni... Your assistance is needed to help make a special event even more special! The annual Social Connection Night is an opportunity for engineering students to meet and chat with engineering professionals from every field, to explore career options and hear success stories.This event, which is typically very well attended, will take place on Wednesday January 10, 2007, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the CIBC Hall of the McMaster University Student Centre. Please consider being a mentor for the evening. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet our up-and-coming engineers and to give back to Mac by volunteering to talk about your career as a professional engineer. For more information, contact Carm Vespi at vespi@mcmcaster.ca .
On May 25, Dr. A.G. Razaqpur was elected President of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) during its Annual General Meeting in Calgary, Alberta. His primary focus as President will be to increase individual and corporate membership. He is also interested in expanding the organization’s participation in relevant national and international forums to ensure that the views of Canadian civil engineers on major professional and social issues are heard. Professor Razaqpur joined McMaster University in July 2005. He currently holds the Effective Design of Structures endowed chair in the Department of Civil Engineering, and serves as the Director of the Centre for Effective Design of Structures. His research interests focus on the mechanics of materials and structures. Founded in 1887, the Montrealbased Canadian Society for Civil Engineering is a national, not-forprofit, learned society. It is dedicated to providing civil engineers with opportunities to enhance their professional development through continuing education, networking and advocacy activities, publications, and a program of international exchange.
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ENGINEERING NEWS McMaster Appointees on Provincial Council
The 23rd Annual J.W. Hodgins Memorial Lecture Presents
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“Raymond Moriyama, In Search of a Soul: conceptualizing, designing and realizing the new Canadian War Museum” • An innovative use of architectural design and materials – concrete, steel, glass, light to build a museum with balance of nature and urbanity, good design and economy, reality and imagination, war and hope, darkness and light, and sustainability and functionality. • Featuring Dr. Raymond Moriyama, one of Canada’s most respected architects. Among his awardwinning projects are the Bata Shoe Museum and the Bank of Montreal Institute for Learning, both in Toronto; the
Minister of Research and Innovation (www.mri.gov.on.ca ), made the announcement in July. The 13-member Council, which is comprised of leaders in innovation, research, business, and academia, will examine how and where innovation happens in the province. It will advise the government on a strategy that keeps Ontario’s economy strong by capitalizing on its ability to transform creative, cutting-edge ideas into long-lasting economic advantages. The Council’s specific mandate includes: define what drives innovation, identify barriers to innovation, and recommend strategies and actions that bring together partners (government, universities, colleges, hospitals, research institutions, and the private sector) to develop Ontario’s innovation agenda.
Regional Ottawa Carleton Centre; the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo; the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh; and most recently the new Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. He designed the McMaster University Student Centre. He has received many personal honours, including the Order of Canada and honorary doctorate from McMaster University. The J.W. Lectureship was established by the Faculty of Engineering in 1983 as a memorial to Dr. J.W. Hodgins, McMaster’s first Dean of Engineering. The focus of the Lectureship is on the engineer in society, in recognition of the breadth of interest and contributions of Dr. Hodgins.
Tuesday, December 5, 2006, 7:00 p.m. McMaster University Information Technology Building, Room 137 Free Lecture
Engineering Students Study Abroad The Faculty of Engineering has developed an international study program. The Engineering Study Abroad Program (ESAP) is a partnership between McMaster, Michigan State University, and the State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (in Volgograd). “The ESAP enhances the educational experience of students and makes them better prepared to compete in a global economy,” says Dr. Konstantin Kreyman, director of the Program. “It gives them an opportunity to see beyond the American and Canadian market; Eastern Europe is a huge market for engineering.” This summer, 12 McMaster students along with 52 from Michigan State Univer-
sity traveled to Russia and the Ukraine. They spent some time in St. Petersburg, Prague and Moscow, saw beautiful architecture and museums, and even attended the opera. In addition to their studies, students also had a chance to visit industrial companies and hear from European engineers about what it is like to be an engineer in Russia. The speakers were very candid about their challenges and engineering problems, Kreyman says. The Program offers first-year through to graduate courses which are taught in English by American, Canadian and Russian faculty members. Courses include highway design, steel construction, probability and statistics for engineers, and en-
gineering computation and mathematics, and they qualify for credit. ESAP is open to students from all engineering streams, as well as from other Faculties and other universities. Kreyman believes the ESAP is the first program of its kind in Canada. “This is not an exchange program. We went as a team.”
For more information, visit www.eng.mcmaster.ca/esap or contact Dr. Kreyman at kreyman@mcmaster.ca .
The Power of Partnership: Making an Impact by Terry Milson The Faculty of Engineering has built its reputation on partnerships, both within and outside of the University. Collaboration and partnerships among faculty, interdisciplines, alumni, and industry have been central to our long history of innovation and learning. We are grateful to our many partners who help sustain our leadership in education and research, and look forward to their continued support as we seek engineering solutions to the challenges of this century and beyond. We invite all alumni and friends of the Faculty to join us. The generous support of individual and corporate donors is critical to our success. Together, we have enjoyed extraordinary success. We count on companies such as Bell, COM DEV Space, Dofasco, Ford, GM Canada, Hatch, Liburdi Engineering, MDA Space, Selkirk Canada, TRW and Xerox for their partnerships with Engineering. Every year, McMaster University relies on support for the Engineering Fund and other
areas of designation from alumni and friends to sustain and enrich its programs. This support builds and sustains a foundation for the Faculty’s outstanding students, faculty members, programs, and facilities. We deeply appreciate this generous support and we hope you will strengthen your partnership with McMaster Engineering by making a gift today. The Engineering Fund is critical to the Faculty’s financial health. The unrestricted nature of the fund allows us to use it where it is needed most: to advance priority programs, or provide seed funding for unique ideas. In our efforts to respond to the constantly changing landscape of engineering research and education, all gifts – regardless of size – are greatly valued.
Our priority areas include: Biomedical Engineering: improving healthcare and outcomes grounded in bioengineering require new approaches emphasizing integration and collaboration among traditional research areas;
Nanotechnology: advancing the science and technology of very small structures holds vast opportunities for research and application development; Sustainable Energy: meeting the needs of a growing world population in an environmentally sustainable way is a major challenge of the 21st century; and Engineering Education: enhancing the learning experience of engineering students across the Faculty. Pursuing the promise of the future and meeting the rapidly changing needs of science and technology require substantial ongoing investments in people, programs, and facilities. Faculty salaries, student scholarships, and equipment purchases are some of the building blocks that make our programs among the best in the world. You can be a part of McMaster Engineering in many ways, and your partnership at any level is truly valued.
For more information on ways of giving, please contact Terry Milson at milsont@mcmaster.ca or call 905.525.9140 extension 27391.
Engineer, Mentor, Friend – Archie Atkinson The Faculty of Engineering and many students from the 1960s were sad to learn of the death of Archibald Hunt Atkinson. Archie will be remembered as a good friend of McMaster and especially of the Faculty of Engineering. A close friend of Dr. John Hodgins, Archie assisted him in planning and developing the engineering school as well as the engineering building, which opened in 1958. He was a former instructor of graphic design and, later, a guest lecturer in a Failures course. In 1986, he established the A.H.Atkinson Education Fund, which has provided McMaster with donations for building programs, a number of annual engineering bursaries, an annual A.H. Atkinson Prize in a Structures course, and an Entrance Scholarship for the Faculty of Engineering. Engineers around the world can thank Archibald Atkinson for his role in the development of composite steel and concrete floor systems. Composite flooring increases the strength and stiffness of the
floor assembly and is especially useful for long spans because it reduces the number of columns required. Archibald Atkinson graduated cum laude from the US Naval Academy in 1934, and received his MBA in 1935 as a member of the first graduating class of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan Fellowship program. He married Elizabeth Illsey of Hamilton in 1941 and the couple moved to Hamilton where Archie found work at Prack & Prack Architects. In 1960 he started Atkinson Engineering with a focus on civil engineering projects. He officially retired from the company in 1995. Mimmo Lostracco, who joined Atkinson Engineering in 1966, remembers Archie as a kind, considerate employer with a huge passion for engineering. “His enthusiasm for design was infectious and it made us bet-
ter engineers with a greater respect for our profession.” In addition to being a generous and charitable person, Lostracco says that Archie was a mentor to many young engineers. “A former student told me that he recalls Archie coming into the lunchroom, sitting with the students and talking about the world of engineering.” Sons Tom and Bill say it’s their father’s absolute conviction in the benefits of higher education that had the most impact on them. “There was never a question about going to university,” says Tom (MechEng ’66). “Hehad an abiding interest in education.” Tom says Archie’s mind never stopped. “Right to the end, he was looking to see how something could be made better or more efficient.”
The MacEngineer 11
Students LEAPing into Engineering They spent the summer learning about self-guided robots, artificial muscles, selfrepairing structures, factory automation, and the design of cars and airplanes. Now, four summer students have decided to take the LEAP into Engineering at McMaster. As a direct result of their participation in the Faculty’s Learning Enrichment Advancement Program (L.E.A.P.), the following students will be joining Engineering Frosh in September: Andrew Cruickshank of Hanover, Ontario; Keith Domenicucci of Cambridge and a winner of the L.E.A.P. Engineering Award as well as silver medalist in the Regional Science and Engineering Fair; Waterloo-based Jonathan Tomkun who represented St. Johns-Kilmarnock High School in both the Region and Canada-wide Science and Engineering Fair; and Nicholas Hawkes of Richmond Hill. Established in 2005, L.E.A.P. is a unique and innovative program designed specifically for high school students from Grades 10, 11 and 12. The purpose is to introduce students to engineering through lectures, hands-on-activities, labs, industry tours, and concept-specific projects. The program incorporates activities that help develop leadership skills, and encourage creativity. The 2006 four-week summer Camp
Kamila Kruzel. From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, participants attend lectures on engineering concepts, and engage in activities that build on those theories and concepts. The program also offers a residence option, giving campers a chance to stay on campus in one of the residences. Kruzel, who is in the materials engineering program, says the classes and activities are provided by first and second years engineering students, graduate students, engineering professors and guest lecturers. This year, L.E.A.P. projects included building a heart pump, building and programming a robot, and building a house model from a given set of materials and submitting it to test conditions that resembled an earthquake and hurricane winds. “The objective is to take engineering concepts, explain them in an interesting way, and give students an opportunity to learn in a creative atmosphere,” Kruzel says. The program is certainly achieving these goals, based on comments by parents and student participants. Parents note that their children have gained confidence and experience working in groups, have benefited from learning about the different streams in engineering, and have found the
was attended by 24 students who spent their time on campus learning about the fundamentals of engineering, working on real-life projects in the University laboratories, and meeting new friends and having fun. This year, the program was expanded to include five theme choices: Biomedical, Robotics, Mechatronics, Design, and Materials. “L.E.A.P. is an opportunity for high school students to explore engineering and the university life,” explains director
women instructors to be great role models for girls thinking of entering engineering. One parent wrote: “He’s having so much fun, he doesn’t want to call home!” Students report that they enjoy working on the various real-life projects and felt there was a lot of useful information provided during the industry tours. “The day seems too short for all the fun things that we do,” wrote one. Another says, “I think the balance between the hands-on activities and analysis is great.”
For more information about L.E.A.P., contact Carm Vespi at vespi@mcmaster.ca .
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The MacEngineer
Virtual Reality
Lands at McMaster Interactive Simulator Brings Computing And Software Education To Life
It’s the shape and colour of a futuristic space ship. It holds the promise of drawing more young people into the field of information technology. McMaster University has unveiled the first interactive motion simulator in Canada to be used for teaching undergraduate students how to develop software for simulated flight, driving, real-time game design, medical research, virtual reality systems, and a host of other applications. The mini-van-sized simulator can accommodate up to five people and features a space-ship-pod fiberglass shell, interior projection system and a Dolby digital surround-sound system. It sits on a Moog-built, six-degrees-of-freedom (surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, yaw), Steward platform with a 1000 kg (2,205 pound) payload and 0.6 Gs of acceleration (equivalent to a high-performance sports car). “It is the same simulator technology used by industry for product development and training but now applied in a classroom
setting for teaching,” explains Martin von Mohrenschildt, Chair of Computing and Software in the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University. “Demand for this knowledge continues to increase. For example, automobiles and aircrafts are now first developed virtually and tested using a simulator, before a prototype is built.” The simulator is one of the more visible elements of a new approach to computing and software education that has been developed by the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster. The Faculty is responding to a general decline in university enrollment for computer science and software engineering programs at a time when demand for information technology employees is growing. Other initiatives undertaken include the launch of a degree program in software engineering and game design, as well as programs in mechatronics engineering and business informatics. Plans for a medical informatics program are also underway. “We are working to dispel the mistaken
notion some people have that there are limited career opportunities in information technology,” said von Mohrenschildt. “We are developing programs and curriculum around practical applications of computer science and software engineering. Information technology is not just about writing code or building personal computers. It is about creating solutions and solving real problems faced by industry, business, medicine, entertainment, and every sector of our society.” The simulator is an entry point for students to learn the latest in 4D-modelling techniques for virtual reality, real-time systems and control, animation tools, user interfaces, and sensory feedback, said von Mohrenschildt. “This technology is finding and driving countless other fields including audio and visual modeling, flight simulation, design prototyping, architectural visualization, animation, and digital image processing.”
The MacEngineer 13
MES News Kristin Pouw, Chemical and Bioengineering IV and McMaster Engineering Society (MES) President, says the school year is underway and the MES is off to a great start! She sends this report. On Sunday, September 11, 2006 we held our McMaster Engineering Society Council Orientation (MESCO) session started on goal-setting, event planning, and working effectively as a team. Guest speaker, Professor Emeritus Dr. Don Woods, helped us explore our personal style and interpersonal dynamics with the aim of helping us work together successfully. Expanding our range of services is a main MES goal for the year. We have already begun creating a WebCT site that all undergraduate engineering students can access. It will have news items, an events calendar, a discussion board, and will facilitate online elections. Our exciting Welcome Week activities went off without a hitch and we introduced an enthusiastic group of first year students to our traditions, groups, clubs, teams, and everything Mac Eng has to offer. The McMaster Engineering Society/Faculty of Engineering took home the MSU Spirit Cup for excellence and great
spirit during Welcome Week. Special thanks goes to our Redsuits and the Orientation Committee. We have already booked a number of employer sessions for students in the Coop program. If you’d like for your company to host a session, please contact Engineering Co-op and Career Services at engcar@mcmaster.ca. We are also planning to expand the McMaster Laboratory Advancement Benefaction Endowment Fund (macLAB) program to ensure that all students are aware of the positive impact of the program. Alumni interaction with our students is very valuable and always appreciated. We encourage all alumni - if you would like to support any of our clubs, teams, groups, or programs (such as macLAB), please let us know. Check out our website http://mes.mcmaster.ca to fi nd out the services we offer our students. All engineering alumni are welcome to attend our events. Check out our website to fi nd out about upcoming activities.
McMaster’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) kicked off the spring/summer term with a retreat, proving they had no intention of slowing down over the summer. The group spent a weekend together in a farmhouse in Coburg, Ontario where they discussed past lessons and future plans, and had a good time getting to know each other personally and building a stronger Chapter. Next year’s executive is a balance between experienced members and new faces, ensuring that Mac EWB will be full of pragmatism as well as new energy and fresh ideas. As most undergraduates headed home for the summer, the group’s presence remained strong through continued high school outreach presentations, community demonstrations and displays, fund-raisers (such as car washes), and a number of social activities for more bonding and fun. Marka Jansen (BioChemical Engineering IV) and Robert Borzychowski (Mechanical Engineering and Society V) who spent the a four-month term in Ghana and Zambia as EWB volunteers have recently returned home
EWB Students Featured on Radio
It’s Fast...Very Fast High performance computers (HPC) have become vital to many of today’s complex research projects. HPCs speed up computing time and are capable of devoting lots of memory to tackle complex problems. Fortunately for Canadian researchers, governments along with industry and the private sector have been willing to support the construction of SHARCNET, the Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network, Canada’s largest HPC consortium. McMaster University was one of the original four universities and two colleges
EWB
that formed the SHARCNET consortium in 2001. Currently, 16 universities and colleges form a cluster of high performance computers in south-central Ontario. McMaster’s Hugh Couchman, professor of physics and astronomy, is the Scientific Director of SHARCNET. In June, McMaster launched its newest HPC cluster, Requin. Comparable to 1,536 high-powered desktop computers each containing four times the normal amount of memory, Requin is capable of consuming and producing massive amounts of data in a very short period continued on page 16
Engineering students traveling to developing countries to share expertise and skills as part of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) can now share their experiences with Canadians – and the world. In a joint project developed between the rabble podcast network (rpn) and EWB, students are provided with equipment and record their own thoughts and comments about their adventures for a radio show called Fulcrum. The rabble podcast network hosts the show at no cost. Podcasts are free to download. The first podcast aired in June and featured engineering student Paul Okrutny (www.rabble.ca/rpn/ful). Okrutny spoke about how he got involved with EWB and of his recent trip to Calcutta, India. One of the objectives of EWB is to raise awareness about economic and social challenges in the countries where the organization is operating. Fulcrum programs will help fi ll that mandate by connecting participating EWB students with people all over the world.
Chapter Active in Summer 2006 by Sura Abdul-Razzak
with new attitudes, a wealth of new learning experiences, and much to reflect on. “You recognize things from [the local’s] perspective much better when you’re integrated into their context,” explains Jansen about her term in Tamale, Ghana. And integrated they were. EWB volunteers live with a family for the entire placement with only the conditions and luxuries that the rest of the family enjoys. Jansen was working with Opportunities Industrialization Centres, which runs projects such as borehole drilling, water and sanitation and micro enterprise development. Her involvement in these projects has made her excited to “encourage more people to consider overseas placements and get involved in groups like EWB.” Borzychowski was placed in Livingstone, Zambia working with long-term EWB overseas volunteer Mike Quinn on a project run by CARE Zambia. The project promoted the growing of sorghum to achieve food security using crop diversification in a country where maize is the primary crop. Borzychowski says the experience has inspired him to apply for a long-term (24 month) overseas volunteer position with Engineers Without Borders after he graduates this spring. The former chapter president (2005-2006) emphasizes that the hands-on experience he gained is irreplaceable. “When you’re actually in a developing community, you see the detrimental affect of problems that seem trivial from the standpoint of someone sitting in North America.” His personal experience
exposed him to the dramatic effects of gender roles and the difficulties in working on development with these deeply ingrained values. The two volunteers placed in two different countries working on different projects have of course had very distinct experiences. They did, however, agree on one thing: there is no one recipe for development - context plays a huge role. To read Marka Jansen in more detail about their experiences, log onto the McMaster EWB website at http:// mcmaster.ewb.ca and click on Overseas Blogs. Finally, the McMaster EWB Chapter congratulates Boris Martin, a PhD student in McMaster’s Materials Engineering department and the Chapter’s most experienced member. Martin is the recent recipient of two awards: the Graduate Students Association (GSA) Honour Society Award and The David Alan Reid Kay Memorial Prize. He was recognized for his work within EWB as well as for his leadership in the Global Citizenship Conference. For more information about the McMaster chapter of Engineers Without Borders, its high school outreach programs, community events, fund-raising and social activities, and for inquiries on sponsorship and donations, email ewb@mcmaster.ca or visit http://mcmaster.ewb.ca.
Robert Borzychowski
ENGINEERING STUDENT NEWS Engineering and Management Students Excel
Scott Ollivierre
Dom Spagnuolo
Two Engineering and Management students scored in the top range in the annual Major Field Test in Business. Electrical Engineering and Management student Scott Ollivierre and Dom Spagnuolo of Computer Engineering and Management scored 196 and 195, respectively, out of a total possible score of 200 at the annual sitting of the test in April 2006. Princeton, New Jersey-based Educational Testing Services (ETS), which conducts the test, has compiled norms based upon the population of 110,000 students who took the test between 2003 and 2005. On those norms, the mean is 153 and the 95th percentile is at 177. The high scores achieved by Scott and Dom are especially remarkable because the majority of students taking the test are registered in business administration programs. The Major Field Test program is a battery of tests used by more than 700 colleges and universities globally to measure business students’ academic development and achievement. Senior Engineering and Management students at McMaster take the test as one of the requirements in Commerce 4PA3 Business Policy: Strategic Management. Congratulations to Scott, Dom and all the Engineering and Management and Commerce students who distinguished themselves this year.
16
The MacEngineer
Venture Camp Soars Venture, one of the two summer camps organized and run by the Faculty of Engineering, experienced a very successful season. Dave Rosato, director for Venture, said this year had the highest ever enrollment, with 913 participant attending one of the weekly camps which were held in July and August. A marketing plan and the fact that the Engineering & Science theme was extended to include students entering Grade 9 helped to boost enrollment, he said. “It was an amazing experience. We hope to make next year even bigger and better.” Venture offers two streams for fun and exploration. Engineering & Science, which focuses on how the earth works and on various man-made machines, is offered to those students entering Grades 4 to 9. Computers & Technology, which focuses on various applications for computers as well as exploring
how electronics work, is offered to students entering Grades 4 to 11. The purpose of the Venture camps is to introduce children to the exciting worlds of engineering, science, and technology within a fun and innovative environment. Rosato, who is entering fourth year of the Electrical Engineering & Management program, is himself a former camper. He says that approximately 30 per cent of participants return each year. For more information about the Venture Camp program, contact Carm Vespi at vespi@mcmaster.ca
It’s Fast...Very Fast continued from page14 of time. Representing a $16 million investment, McMaster’s Requin cluster is the most expensive in SHARCNET. HPCs have an added benefit in that they attract leading-edge researchers and groundbreaking research projects. Assistant professor of mechanical engineering Stephen Tullis chose to come to McMaster from Cambridge University, England, so he could access the high performance computing time and capabilities he requires for his research in turbulence and combustion. Other McMaster researchers currently using SHARCNET to assist with their projects include assistant
professor of physics and astronomy James Wadsley, physicist Nikolas Provatas, and David Earn, professor of math and statistics. More than $100 million has been spent on SHARCNET to date. Funding is provided from the federal government through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and from the province through the Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT) and the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund (ORDCF), as well as from private and industry contributions.
ALUMNI GRAPEVINE MacChemEng Laughton, Susan ‘95: Greg and I want to introduce you to our newest family member. Matthew David was born on May 22. A brother for Sarah.
MacCivEng
pics Ontario. It’s now become an annual event. This year’s tourney, held on August 23 at the Peninsula Lakes Golf Club in Fenwick, Ontario, attracted over 90 participants, and registrations and a silent auction raised $16,000. I invite engineering alumni to read more about this event at www.newhorizonsgolf.ca .
Devney, John ’76: I am now in Australia based MacMechEng Canberra, but currently working on a public Lamoureux, Peter ’86 (B.Eng.) ’89 (M.Eng.): water transport project in Dubai, United Arab Everything is going well with my career and Emirates. I’ve lived in Australia since 1994, and my family. Kerry and I have two daughters and work with Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd., which a son, and are living in Canton, Michigan. We is now part of AECOM. (EMA Engineering in travel frequently to our cottage in Muskoka. Canada is the affi liated company.) I am I just passed 3 years with the Ford Associate Director for Transport PlanMotor Co. where I currently manage ning. I was interested in the Beer Tasta large team of software developing Event. This would defi nitely be a ment and implementation people no-no in Dubai, a Muslim country. Liwithin Product Development. We quor is only found in the restaurants are responsible for Digital Vehicle hidden away in the 5-star Western creation for all new programs. hotels. At 42°C and humid – a cold It continues to be very exciting and beer would be great! very challenging. Mirza, Faisal ’94: Worked in the Toronto area for 2 years in MacMechEng.&Mgt. engineering consulting, with a stint Osfolk, Anton ’01 and Adrienne ’01 in Jamaica, West Indies. Have been (nee) Skretkowicz: Well, it fi nally hapworking out west since 1997, and live Nyla Rose Osfolk pened! After about 48 hrs of labour and two in New Westminster with my lovely trips to the Labour and Delivery department wife Lesley and two pugs, Oscar and Grissom. at McMaster Medical Centre, Nyla Rose Osfolk Currently with Terasen Energy Services, a new was fi nally born on July 23 at 6:54 a.m. She wing of Terasen Inc, formerly BC Gas (BC’s natu- weighed in at 7 lbs, 9 oz. (BTW, this is the real ral gas provider). The company designs, builds, reason why Adrienne could not come to the operates and fi nances alternative energy systems scotch tasting – we had just found out that she including geothermal. Have had assignments in was pregnant and instead of everybody asking Vancouver, Victoria, Kitimat, Calgary us a million questions as to why she would not and Nigeria. We are a home stay famdrink, she opted not to go.) ily for students from foreign countries MacElecEng&Society including China, Japan and Germany Shulman, Jess (Angus) I’m currently who are learning English. on maternity leave with my
Models Never Looked so Good Using MACLAB funds, the Department of Mechanical Engineering has purchased and installed a new Dimension SST Rapid Prototyping 3-D printing machine. The machine can create ABS plastic models directly from CAD programs, and will be used for mechanism design instruction in MechEng 2D03 classes, and in the new Product Development course MechEng 4B03. Other expected uses are for the Solar Car and Formula SAE teams. MACLAB is a voluntary endowment fund established by the McMaster Engineering Society (MES), and contributed to by in-course undergraduate students, alumni, and corporate friends. Thanks to the department Technical Services staff for their efforts in arranging the purchase and installation. Models created with the new 3-D printer will be reported in a future issue of the MacEngineer.
Szewczyk, Frank ‘74: After suffering daughter, Abby, born from and surviving a stroke in 2003, January 16, 2006, and I wanted to give back to the health loving every minute! At work Abby Shulman care system in appreciation for the I am Manager of GE Healthcare’s Proposal Cenexcellent care and assistance I received. In 2005, tre, a new team that handles customer proposals I established The New Horizons Golf Tournaand RFP responses for high-tech medical equipment to raise funds for the Heart and Stroke ment. My husband, Al, and I live in Toronto’s Foundation of Ontario and the Special OlymBloor West Village, and will celebrate our fiveyear anniversary this November (in Paris!).
MOVING? • GOT NEWS TO SHARE? E-MAIL YOUR: • Name • New Address • Fax • Postal Code • E-mail • Comments: (present occupation, recent accomplishments ie: awards, recognitions).
TO CARM VESPI AT: vespi@mcmaster.ca
MacMechEng.&Society Monkhouse, Evan ’05: Thanks to Venture Engineering and Science Camp on Saturday, June 8, 2006 at Liuna Station in Hamilton I married Krista (nee Adlington, Biochemistry ’04). We are now living in Sydney, Australia where I am working as an engineer and Krista is attending medical school.
Krista & Evan
The MacEngineer 17
Research & External Relations Update continued from page 3 Focus areas will be manufacturing engineering, mechatronics and robotics, biomedical engineering, IT, and sustainable energy. In the same region (Rhônes-Alpes), the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 is one of the premier universities in the country. Following a visit by Prof. Jean-Pierre Puaux in June, we are currently working on an agreement with the Institut Sciences et Techniques de l’Ingénieur de LYON (ISTIL, http://istil. univ-lyon1.fr/) on collaboration and partnership in the areas of industrial engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, modeling and scientific computing, and biotechnologies. We are also very pleased to have renewed an agreement regarding student exchange with the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan (ENSC, http://www.ens-cachan.fr/). Finally, first official contacts have been established with the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, St. Etienne (EMSE, http://www.emse.fr/en/), one of the most prestigious engineering schools in France, in the top group of the “grandes écoles” for generalist engineers. Elisabeth Goutin, Director of International Relations at EMSE, and I are working on developing a plan for exchange of graduate students, lab internships at EMSE for our own graduate students and eventually, dual-degree agreements and possible extension of the cooperation to other schools of the Groupe des Ecoles des Mines (GEM). As always, exciting times lie ahead of us, and I will update you on these and many other initiatives in future issue of the MacEngineer.
Get your
MacEngineer by e-mail!
Contact Carm Vespi vespi@mcmaster.ca
18
The MacEngineer
DEPARTMENTAL NEWSBRIEFS Chemical Engineering Professor emeritus Don Woods has been selected as a 2006 recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Instruction. This award makes him the first person to have received the President’s Awards for Excellence in all three categories: Educational Leadership, Course or Resources Design, and Instruction. Woods presented two day-long workshops on problem solving and creativity in Winpak Portion Packaging Inc., Etobicoke. He also presented a half day workshop on PBL at the McMaster Summer Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences. Participants were from Saudi Arabia, Japan and the United States. Dr. Woods is most widely known for pioneering the McMaster ProblemSolving Program, which emphasizes “process skills” such as problem-solving, self-assessment, group and team skills, lifelong learning skills and change management skills. Throughout his career, Woods has won many local, national and international awards. He was one of the first recipients of a 3M Teaching Fellowship as well as being the first HEERDSA Fellow where, as a leading educator, he was invited to present workshops on educational topics in major cities in Australia. He also has Honorary Doctor of Science Degrees from Queen’s University and the University of Guelph. Congratulations to Raja and Sutapa Ghosh on the birth of their twin daughters. Anamika and Anushka were born on June 27. Drs. John MacGregor, Tom Marlin, and Chris Swartz presented recent research results at the joint Escape-16/PSE/06 Conference in Garmish, Germany. A poster presenting the Ph.D. research of Danielle Zyngier was granted the Best Poster Award for the conference. The Eighteenth Annual McMaster Control Consortium Meeting was attended by representatives of 23 companies and three universities. As usual, the highlight of the day was the poster session, where graduate students presented their work to the attendees. The meeting was followed by a two-day workshop on batch process monitoring, control, and optimization. Dr. John Brash and Dr. John MacGregor were recognized for their contributions to the field of chemical engineering by the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering. These awards will be presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering to be held in Sherbrooke in October, 2006. Dr. Brash, director of the newly established McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering, will be presented with the R.S. Jane Memorial Award. This award is presented to an individual who has made new significant contributions to chemical engineering or industrial chemistry in Canada.
It is the premier award of The Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering. Dr. MacGregor will receive the Award in Industrial Practice. This award recognizes a distinguished contribution in the application of chemical engineering or industrial chemistry to the industrial sphere. MacGregor joined the Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University in 1972, and is a Distinguished University Professor and Dofasco Chair in Process Automation and Information Technology. He is also cofounder of the McMaster Advanced Control Consortium that is sponsored by many international companies. Also at its October meeting, the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering will recognize Suzanne Kresta, a PhD alumna of the Department and currently a professor at the University of Alberta. She will receive the Syncrude Canada Innovation Award. This award is presented for a distinguished contribution in the field of chemical engineering while working in Canada. Kresta is co-editor of the award winning Handbook of Industrial Mixing and the author of a number of widely cited papers on turbulent mixing in stirred tanks.
Civil Engineering Commencing July 1st, Dr. Ghani Razaqpur was appointed Chair of the Department for a period of five years. Razaqpur came to McMaster in July 2005 from Carleton University, Ottawa where he taught for 22 years and served in various administrative capacities. His research interests focus on the mechanics of materials and structures, including concrete reinforced with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement. In May, Razaqpur was elected President of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering. He serves as editor of the International Journal of Cement and Concrete Composites, and as Chair of the CSA Standard S806 technical committee. Congratulations are extended to Dr. Ahmed Ghoborah who has been reappointed Joe Ng/ JHE Consulting Chair in Design, Construction and Management Infrastructure.
Computing & Software The Department congratulates Dr. Martin von Mohrenscholdt who was appointed Chair of the Department for a period of five years. The appointment was effective July 1, 2006.
Electrical & Computer Engineering Congratulations to Jamal Deen who has been elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). Deen, who is Senior Canada Research Chair in Information technology, is the eleventh member of the Faculty of Engineering to be elected a Fellow of the Society. He is being recognized for research in the analysis, modeling and applica-
Upcoming Events
ALUMNI EVENTS Class of 1966
Golf Tourney Feedback: Robert Korol (Professor, Civil Engineering) – And to Carm, a personal thanks for the great job you did in making the alumni golf tournament the success it was. Well done, indeed!
Alumni Weekend Feedback: Deno Lavdas (Mechanical ‘81) – Great job on Saturday! Thank you very much for making the effort.
Class of 1977
Louis Lee (Electrical ‘66) – Carm, Thanks for all you have done for the Alumni weekend. It was a wonderful event. Steve Swing (Electrical ‘81) – Thanks for the photos. We had a good time at the event. Rob Lister (Electrical ‘81) – It was a nice evening and so nice to see you. I have very fond memories of you working on Kipling and other MES stuff, so long ago. I continue to wish you all the best. Richard Thibodeau (Electrical ‘76) – It was a great evening. Enjoyed it very much. Congratulations to you and your colleagues on making it so enjoyable.
Class of 1981
Paul Sedran (Mechanical ‘81) – It was truly a great reunion. It felt like a major social highlight, which I haven’t experience in awhile. We all headed to a pub in Westdale afterwards. I think that most of us will keep in touch after this. Thanks for all your work. Everything was A1. Leslie Shemilt (Professor, Chemical Eng.) – Many thanks to you, Carm, and Iwona and Linda for the fine work you have done on making the alumni event a success. We enjoyed the evening very much.
Class of 1986
Rick Bell (Mechanical ‘81) – Thanks, Carm, for all your hard work – planning, organizing, ironing out the fine details, the weather, putting up with complainers and, of course, Deno Lavdas! The reunion was a great success. My hat is off to you and your crew! Doug Lake (Mechanical ’76) – Thanks for all your efforts in arranging the reunion last night. Jennifer and I had a great time. It was particularly good to see Profs. Judd and Latto. Once again, thank you! Alan Arbour (Mechanical ‘81) – I just wanted to say thanks for all the great work that you did in helping to put together the alumni dinner last Saturday. It was great to see everyone again.
CASINO NIGHT
FRIDAY November 10, 2006 Celebration Hall, KT H 8:00 p.m. to midnight
November 13, 2006
Mind Your Manners Dinner Etiquette Seminar
November 29, 2006
3rd Annual Scotch Tasting Event December 6, 2006
J.W. Hodgins Lecture Series
Speaker: Mr. Ray Moriyama See page 10
January 10, 2007
3rd Annual Social Connection Night February 7, 2007
Salsa Night March 23, 2007
Kipling Iron Ring Ceremony May 24, 2007
5th Annual Engineering Golf Tournament June 2, 2007
Engineering Alumni Reunion Class of 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982 & 1987
FOR MORE INFO:
www.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni
The MacEngineer 19
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DEPARTMENTAL NEWSBRIEFS continued from page 18 tions of microelectronic and optoelectronic devices, which are used worldwide. Deen is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Electrochemical Society, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was recently elected to Honorary Membership in the World Innovation Foundation.
Engineering Physics The Department is pleased to announce that Paul Jessop will continue as Chair of the Department for three years. Ray LaPierre has accepted the position of Associate Chair (Undergraduate) and Harold Haugen has accepted the position of Associate Chair (Graduate) for three years, beginning July 1, 2006. Congratulations to Dave Novog on being awarded the NSERC/UNENE Associate Indus-
MSEP
trial Research Chair in Nuclear Safety Analysis. Congratulations to Bill Garland who has been made a Fellow of the Canadian Nuclear Society. Garland has recently been named executive director of the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) and will devote most of his time here at McMaster to those duties. Engineering physics students Derek Luth, Chris Selman and Brad Statham received sponsorship from Wardrop Engineering to attend a Canadian Nuclear Association two-day event in Ottawa. The students reported that the seminars gave them an excellent overview of the industry and provided key contacts with representatives from all sectors of the nuclear enterprise. Andy Knights and Peter Mascher organized and co-chaired the XIV International Conference on Positron Annihilation, held at
McMaster University between July 23 and July 28, 2006. Over 200 scientists from many countries including Argentina, China, Germany, India, Japan, United Kingdom and the U.S.A. took part in the very successful conference. John Preston and Andy Knights teamed up with Jeff Brace (Eng.Phys. 05) and Craig Johnson (Mech 05) to win the 4th Annual Engineering golf tournament. Way to go!
Mechanical Engineering David Arthurs, M.Sc. candidate in the Department was awarded the undergraduate prize sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada in the Third CSME Student Paper Competition 2006 at the CSME Forum which was held in Kananaskis in May, 2006. The paper was titled “Aeroacoustic Response of an Annular Duct with Co-Axial Side Branches” and was co-authored by Dr. S. Ziada.
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