[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/woods.jpg” caption=”Dr. Donald Woods, professor emeritus of chemical engineering, will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree at today’s convocation ceremony. Photo courtesy of Faculty of Engineering.”]Almost 600 students will receive degrees from the Faculty of Engineering today in a convocation ceremony being held in the Great Hall at Hamilton Place.

Dr. Donald Woods, professor emeritus of chemical engineering at McMaster University, will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree at the ceremony in recognition of his many contributions and achievements.

Degrees being conferred at today's convocation include Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Applied Science, Master of Engineering, Master of Science (Computer Science), Bachelor of Engineering and Management, Bachelor of Engineering and Society, Bachelor of Engineering and Biosciences, Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Technology. Diplomas in Nuclear Technology will also be granted.

“Our congratulations are extended to all of today's graduates,” said Mo Elbestawi, dean, Faculty of Engineering. “We hope that they are inspired by our honorary degree recipient, Dr. Donald Woods, whose achievements will continue to benefit the Faculty of Engineering, the University and his profession for years to come.”

Woods' reputation is that of an innovator in both chemical engineering and learning. He is perhaps most widely known as a pioneer of McMaster's distinctive learning strategies: inquiry and problem-based learning.

He developed the McMaster Problem-Solving Program, which emphasizes process skills such as problem-solving, team skills, lifelong learning skills and change management skills. And, he has explored in detail the potential in self-directed and interdependent learning.

As one of the most decorated university teachers in Canada, Woods is the only McMaster professor to receive all three of the President's Awards for Excellence in the teaching realm (Instruction 2006, Course or Resource Design 1999 and Educational Leadership 1993).

He was the first McMaster professor to win the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association's (OCUFA) Teaching Award. He was also named one of the inaugural recipients of the 3M National Teaching Fellowship.

Woods has been recognized by professional societies and other universities for his outstanding commitment and dedication to chemical engineering education. He is a Fellow of both the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering (CSChE) and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

He has been granted honorary degrees by Queen's University and the University of Guelph. His educational scholarship was recognized by the CSChE with a Century of Achievement Award as one of 20 chemical engineers who had the most significant influence in Canada in the last century.