Posted on Nov. 6: Distinguished McMaster alumni honoured at Fall Convocation

These awards are made to McMaster alumni who have distinguished themselves through outstanding scholarship, research, creative contributions to the arts or sciences, or service to society.

Martin Green

Martin Green is Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia, and research director of Pacific Solar Pty. Ltd, a firm established to commercialize the university's polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cell technology.

An expert in the area of photovoltaics and the utilization of solar energy, Green received his doctorate in electrical engineering from McMaster University in 1974. His bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering were obtained from the University of Queensland in 1970 and 1971.

The process whereby sunlight is converted to electricity using solar cells is called photovoltaics. His fundamental work in this field identified the factors that limit silicon solar cell performance. Since then, the work of his research group has improved the performance of silicon solar cells by over 50 per cent.

Green has invented or co-invented (with former student Stuart Wenham), seven distinct cell technologies over the past 15 years and these solar cells have held the world efficiency record for converting sunlight into electricity for more than a decade. He is the author of a popular textbook on solar cells and founding director of the Photovoltaics Special Research Centre.

Green's work has been recognized internationally with the 1990 William R. Cherry Award, the 1995 J.J. Ebers Award and the 1999 Australia Prize. The World Renewable Energy Network Congress awarded him the 2000 Millennium Award for outstanding scientist in his field. Last year Green received the Humboldt Foundation Research Award for his lifetime achievements in science.

Kevin Lynch

During his more than 20-year career with Canada's public service, Kevin Lynch has worked in a number of key economic departments and agencies, most notably and recently as deputy minister of the Department of Finance.

Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Lynch received his BA in economics from Mount Allison University, his master's degree from the University of Manchester and his PhD in economics from McMaster University. He began his career in 1976 with the Bank of Canada and joined the finance department within five years, becoming the youngest director in the history of the department.

Before being named federal deputy minister of finance in 2000, Lynch held such senior positions as assistant deputy minister, international trade and finance; assistant deputy minister, fiscal policy; and senior assistant deputy minister of finance. He is former deputy minister of industry (1995-2000) and in this capacity also served as director of the Business Development Bank of Canada. He is a former secretary to the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Science and Technology.

Earlier this year, Maclean's magazine named Lynch among its 50 “most influential Canadians.” He is credited with shifting the department's focus from fundamentals to new departures.

Lynch leads the civil service in tackling such major economic issues as an aging population and coping with growing income inequality. He has shown both an ability to make bold decisions and a balanced approach.