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| Dr. David Lynch, P.Eng . . . . forecasting a need for
an expanded faculty. |
An unprecedented expansion is positioning the University of
Alberta among the top-capacity engineering faculties in North
America – and has earned Dean David Lynch, P.Eng., the
Alberta Chamber of Resources Resource Person of the Year. The
prestigious award acknowledges Dr. Lynch’s contributions
in building the capacity of technology, research, and human
resources in Alberta.
More than 500 business leaders and guests attended the chamber’s
recent annual banquet and award ceremony to congratulate Dr.
Lynch.
Recognizing growing industry demand and enrolment potential,
Dr. Lynch accurately forecasted the need to build capacity
for engineering graduates and for research. He rose to that
challenge through a series of bold initiatives, which have
resulted in a major expansion of the department’s facilities.
Commitments from industry and government, in fact, now approach
$250 million. New construction includes:
•
the Engineering Teaching and Learning Complex, completed in
2002
•
the Electrical and Computer Engineering Research Facility,
completed in 2001, and
•
the Markin/CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, to
be completed in 2004.
This new, state-of-the-art learning and research space will
provide additional capacity for 1,000 undergraduate and 550
graduate students. It will add over 100 research and teaching
laboratories, and will permit a 40-per-cent increase in engineering
programs.
This puts the University of Alberta Faculty of Engineering’s
capacity within the top five per cent in North America. The
faculty is already among North America’s leading engineering
research and teaching centres, with 4,200 students, 30 research
chairs, $50 million in annual research activity and over 120
new professors.
Dr. Lynch also played a key role in securing the right to
locate the National Research Council National Institute for
Nanotechnology in Alberta. Facilities for the new institute
are scheduled for completion in 2005. Nanotechnology-related
research will be pursued in such resource-based areas as
oilsands processing, catalysis for petrochemical production,
and advanced materials technology.
Brad Anderson, P.Geol., executive director of Alberta Chamber
of Resources, said: “Dr. Lynch stands as a model for
the resource sector in Alberta. His vision and leadership
in the public sector are widely noted and supported among
our members, who are among the most senior in the energy,
resource and technology sector. David’s work is widely
admired and it contributes directly to Alberta’s prosperity.”
The chamber represents 170 member corporations, covering
the spectrum of Alberta resource development activity and
the service and supply sector. It is widely recognized as
a leading voice for the resource industries. The chamber
provides leadership for the orderly and responsible development
of Alberta’s natural resources.
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