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Dr. Claude Lajeunesse, P.Eng., president of
the Canadian Academy of Engineering, recently welcomed 24
new members to the academy, including two from the ranks of
APEGGA, Dr. Francis Hartman, P.Eng., and Dr. Gerard
Lachapelle, P. Eng.
Dr. Hartman of the University of Calgary is a world authority
in project management and currently holds a prestigious chair
in the subject. Over the past 30 years, he has gained a wealth
of technical administrative, financial and managerial experience
in high technology and related projects in North America,
Europe and the Middle East, covering more than $50 billion
worth of capital projects.
During the last six years, Dr. Hartman has published 11 books
or chapters within them and 50 papers, and was the keynote
speaker or presenter at more than 100 national and international
meetings. He also supervised more than 30 master's degree
and PhD students.
Dr. Lachapelle, also of the University of Calgary, contributes
significantly to the development and dissemination of satellite-based
navigation technology in Canada and around the world. He has
played an important role in the successful training of a score
of technical experts.
Through his innovation research and technology transfer activities,
he has provided leadership for Canada to be recognized for
excellence in this new technology. His pioneering work related
to the Global Positioning System, a complex constellation
involving 24 satellites, is used throughout the world.
NAIT Honours Stream-Flo's Duncan McNeill
NAIT President Dr. Sam Shaw recently recognized Duncan McNeill
as the 2003 Distinguished Friend of the Institute. Mr. McNeill's
businesses - permit-holders Stream-Flo Industries Ltd.
and Master Flo Valve Inc. - are leaders in the design
and manufacture of specialized oil field equipment.
In December 2000, Mr. McNeill and his wife Verda made gave
$1 million to NAIT in recognition of the institute's leading
role in Alberta's economy. The gift provided funding for the
new state-of-the-art NAIT HP Centre for Information and Communications
Technology and created an endowment fund for scholarships.
"Duncan McNeill has been a great ambassador of NAIT over
the years," said Dr. Shaw. "His life as an industrial
pioneer, successful entrepreneur and principled philanthropist
make him a superb role model for Albertans."
Industrial Chair Awarded
Dr. Jim Haslett, P.Eng., of the U of C was recently
awarded the first industrial chair in iCORE's new Industrial
Chair Establishment Program and a total of $1 million from
the iCORE Industrial Chair Establishment Grant to develop
a research team. Dr. Haslett will lead a research program
called the Wireless Science and Technology Initiative in direct
collaboration with TRLabs and its industrial sponsors, and
concentrate on the development of advanced radio frequency
integrated circuits for next generation wireless products.
More Recognition, Support
For Light Up The World
Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday, P.Eng., has been awarded
a Rolex Award for Enterprise, the Tech Museum Award and the
University of Calgary President's Internationalization Achievement
Award. These awards will honour and help fund the volunteer-driven
Light Up The World Foundation and its continued passion to
provide inexpensive and energy-efficient lighting systems
to homes, schools and temples in some of the world's poorest,
most remote villages. It will also help consolidate LUTW's
organizational structure so it can attract more sponsors.
Dr. Irvine-Halliday founded LUTW after a 1997 trip to a Nepalese
village, where he saw how the lack of lighting was impacting
children's ability to read and learn at night. He won the
APEGGA Community Service Summit Award in 2000, and was featured
in a PEGG article in October 2000.
Hydrate Researcher Receives Award
Dr. Raj Bishnoi, P.Eng., of the U of C's Department
of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, was honoured with a
major award this summer by the Gas Processors Association,
in international organization based in Tulso, Okla. Dr. Bishnoi,
a former Summit Award winner, was presented with the Donald
L. Katz Award for his outstanding research and educational
contributions to the global industry.
Natural gas hydrates, such as the massive discovery off the
coast of Vancouver Island this summer, are an important future
energy source in may parts of the world. Dr. Bishnoi and his
colleagues' substantial research contributions are in the
thermodynamics and kinetics of natural gas hydrates.
"When I first stared this research, people used to ask
me, 'Why in the world do you want to work in the thermodynamics
and kinetics of gas hydrates? No one uses these things.' "
he says with a grin. A few decades later, Dr. Bishnoi is enjoying
and award-winning career, and a steady stream of research
contracts with energy firms from around the world.
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