Posted on May 13: Engineers awarded four Industrial Research Chairs

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May 13, 2004

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Mo-Elbestawi_opt2.jpg” caption=”Mo Elbestawi”]Four Industrial Research Chairs totaling $5.6 million were announced last night at an Applause and Accolades gala, celebrating the numerous successes of the Faculty of Engineering in 2003.

Industry Canada announced that the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) will contribute $2.8 million for the chairs, with matched funding from industry partners and the University.

“This investment from government and private industry is invaluable to the Faculty of Engineering,” said engineering dean Mo Elbestawi. “This funding helps with our efforts to recruit and retain the most talented researchers. It has given us an edge to compete at the global level, thereby increasing our research capacity substantially.”

The chairs celebrated at the event are:

  • The NSERC/UNENE Industrial Research Chair in Nuclear Safety Analysis, led by chairholder John Luxat, which will further fundamental understanding in technical areas of nuclear safety and will develop advanced applied technology in nuclear safety analysis ($1 million over five years);
  • The NSERC/RIM/CITO/McMaster Industrial Research Chair in Pico-Cellular Wireless Internet Access Networks, led by chairholder Terry Todd, which studies and develops techniques for wireless Internet access systems by means of very small or pico-cellular networks ($1.2 million over five years);
  • The NSERC/Dalsa/McMaster Industrial Research Chair in Digital Cinema, led by chairholder Xiaolin Wu, which addresses the challenges of digital imaging so that it can be regularly used by motion picture studios as a replacement medium for traditional film technology ($1 million over five years);
  • The NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems, led by chairholder Tony Petric, which conducts research on fuel cells to respond to the global demand for cleaner and more efficient uses of energy ($1.5 million over five years).

Four Premier's Research Excellence Awards, one teaching award, three University honoured awards, four Canada Research Chairs and 17 professional association and societies recognitions also were announced. Click here for a list of the recipients. McMaster also presented former chairman and CEO of Dofasco John Mayberry with the inaugural Faculty of Engineering Leadership Award.

“McMaster's Faculty of Engineering has earned its reputation as one of the country's most innovative faculties largely on the strength of its research community,” said McMaster President Peter George. “Our Faculty of Engineering has one of the highest research funding incomes per capita in the country. The creation of these chairs will help maintain its research leadership and advance its stature in the research community.”

Photo caption: Mo Elbestawi, dean of the Faculty of Engineering, speaks at Wednesday's Applause and Accolades gala. Photo credit: Ron Scheffler