Aiming for the Moon - College of Engineering

Aiming for
the Moon
Autumn 2006
p. 8
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College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Dean's Office, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5A9
Message from the Dean
Bob Gander
College Editor: Lynn Danbrook
Writer: Noelle Chorney
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Growing into
Bigger Shoes
p. 7
I am pleased to greet you as Acting
Dean for the coming year. I was asked
to take on this role when Dr. Laguë left
to become Dean of Engineering at the
University of Ottawa. Claude was a
very effective dean for the College, and
we wish him well in his new position.
I am certainly looking forward to more
interaction with you, the alumni and
friends of our College, in the coming
months.
As usual there have been a number of
exciting changes in the College over the
past year. Some of those are highlighted
in the articles in this issue of Thorough.
We were pleased that University
Council approved our new program
in Computer Engineering. We are also
grateful to the University for providing
the faculty and laboratory resources
needed for the program. As expected,
there has been a strong interest shown
by students who are starting in the
program this September.
The College received a major gift from
alumnus Ron Graham and his wife
Jane. This gift, along with the earlier
gift from alumnus D.K. Seaman and
others, has allowed the creation of the
Ron and Jane Graham Centre for the
Study of Communication. We are the
first Engineering college in Canada to
have such a centre. Under the dynamic
leadership of the D.K. Seaman Chair, Dr.
Jennifer MacLennan, we have proposed
an Engineering Communication Option
for undergraduate students and a
Master of Professional Communication
program. The creation of the Centre,
with 4 faculty positions in addition
to the Chair, has put those proposals
on a faster track to implementation.
Renovations have started on part of the
second floor of A-wing to accommodate
the new Centre.
Recruitment of new faculty is an
ongoing process. It is always exciting to
see the energy and enthusiasm that they
bring to the College, and their new areas
of research are fascinating.
The undergraduate students are
planning a busy year. Spectrum 2007
will be held January 18 to 21. We
anticipate that this year’s Spectrum will
continue to provide an engaging and
educational exposure to engineering
and science for the thousands of
visitors. Then in March, the Saskatoon
Engineering Student Society is hosting
the annual Canadian Engineering
Competition.
Included with Thorough, you will
find two supplements. We are adding
a new feature this year: the Research
Report. We hope that this helps you
to understand and appreciate the
activities that faculty, staff and students
are involved in as they pursue new
engineering knowledge. The other
supplement is a brochure on our
Building Expansion project. A recent
study by Facilities Management Division
has confirmed the obvious: our student
enrolment and research activity have
grown substantially since our last major
expansion over 25 years ago.
I hope you enjoy
this edition of
Thorough.
Bob
Farewell from the Former Dean
Dr. Claude Laguë
As you read these lines, I will have taken up
my new appointment as Dean of the Faculty of
Engineering at the University of Ottawa. This
represents a great professional opportunity
for me, one that also allows my family to
relocate closer to our families and friends in
Québec. However, the decision to leave the
College after six and a half years as a faculty
member and just over four in the Dean’s Office
was not an easy one to make. The College
of Engineering, your college, is truly one of
the finest engineering schools in Canada and
a lot of it has to do with the commitment,
dedication, and passion of its people – faculty,
staff, students, and of course alumni. I
consider myself very fortunate to have had
the opportunity to collaborate with such a fine
group of people. Even though I do not qualify
as a U of S engineering alumnus, you can be
assured that I will remain a strong supporter of
the College for the rest of my life.
Together, we have achieved many things
during the last four years. Back in 2003, we
were successful in renewing the accreditation
of all but one of the College’s undergraduate
programs for the maximum period of
six years. Further to that and through a
major collective and concerted effort, the
College developed and implemented an
ambitious strategic plan. So far, this plan
has resulted in the consolidation of existing
activities and programs (e.g. promotion
of engineering to northern and aboriginal
students; establishment of a Centre for the
Study of Communication; intensification of
graduate education) and in new initiatives
(e.g. Engineering Entrepreneurship Option;
undergraduate program in computer
engineering; themes of research excellence
in the College; two new Canada Research
Chair positions). The active support of many
of the College alumni and friends was key in
turning some of these dreams into reality and
we are extremely thankful for it. In addition,
your generosity has continued to manifest
itself through increased contributions to the
Engineering Advancement Trust, to the Dean’s
Fund, and to the Student Activities Fund as
well as through the establishment of new
awards and scholarships for our students.
It has been an honour and a privilege to serve
the College and the University as a faculty
member and as a dean. I have grown as an
engineer but even more as a human being. My
family and I will keep fond memories of our
seven years in Saskatoon and of the people of
Saskatchewan. It has been a pleasure to get
to meet so many of the College’s alumni and
friends and I want to wish you all the best for
the future.
Thorough-ly yours… always!
Claude
Claude Laguë and Provost & VP Academic Michael Atkinson
(June 23rd, 2006 Farewell and Presentation)
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Volunteer Recognition
Engineering alumni continue to demonstrate a high level of involvement in the success of our
College. We take this opportunity to recognize and thank the following individuals:
Engineering Advancement
Trust (EAT) Board of Trustees
The Engineering Advancement Trust (EAT) serves as
a trust fund to upgrade and replace equipment in the
undergraduate student labs.
The EAT is administered by a Board of Trustees
comprised of previous graduates of the College of
Engineering who are appointed by the President of
the University, under recommendation of the Dean.
Wayne Clifton, Chair
Art Bergan
Clint Broughton
Art DumontAnu Gupta
Lindsay MilneRuss Renneberg
Byron SeamanAl Schreiner
Annual Calgary
Campaign Committee
Thanks to the 2005 Committee members:
Steve Heidt, Chair
Byron Birch
Art Dumont
Merle Johnson
Ron Kuchinka
Lesley McGilp
Jerry Roberts
Neeroo Sharma-Hall
Ryan Tourigny
Doug Annable
Ian Campbell
Heather Isidoro
Barry Korchinski
Nadia Luciuk
John Niedermaier
Al Schreiner
Simon Tam
Doug Annable will take a break from the Committee to
enjoy a bit of retirement and Heather Isidoro will step
down as Luncheon Chair as she pursues an MBA.
The Committee welcomes the
following new members for 2006:
Calgary U of S Engineers’ Alumni
Social and Golf Tournament
Committee
Wayne Bricker
Doug Crone
Clem Gaudet
Joseph Kuffar
David Zhau
Chris Regier, Chair; John Evans, Treasurer;
Heather Isidoro, Secretary; Bill Irwin, Kurt Gibb,
Wally Chow, Larry Gerstmar, Chris Brillon
New members are always welcome to participate.
And taking a much needed
break after about 13 years
on the Committee, we also
extend our thanks to Bob
Williams.
To inquire about the
2007 tournament, please
contact Chris Regier at
(403)276-6449 or email at
kiffernathan@shaw.ca
4
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Marv Crowley
Alana Getty
Wayne Hovdestad
Myron Stadnyk
Please contact Steve Heidt, Chair at
(403) 539-2493 or by email at
steve.heidt@shaw.ca
Oil & Gas Services Committee
Al Schreiner, Chair
Bryan Jackson
Ian Campbell
Lindsay Milne
Selby Porter
Barry Korchinski
Doug Annable
John Niedermaier
Murray Todd
Walter Chayka
Oil & Gas Producers Committee
Lowell Jackson, Chair
Dave Sandmeyer
Glenn Carley
Ralph Hesje
From June 22 — 24, 2006 the University of
Saskatchewan hosted its annual Reunion
weekend. Once again there was a record
number of engineering grads who returned to
Saskatoon for the celebration. The weekend
was packed with events and memorable
moments.
If 2007 is an honoured reunion year for
your class, please give some thought to
coming back to campus to meet up with your
classmates, take a trip down memory lane, and
just enjoy a fabulous weekend in Saskatoon!
We’d love to see you.
Bob Steele
Ed Kalthoff
Norm Holton
Rob Zakresky
nothing
“ There's
stronger than the
heart of a volunteer.
”
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Student happenings
Showing Off at
Every three years, University of Saskatchewan engineering and science students have an opportunity
to exhibit their projects to the public. 2007 is one of those years—Cameco Spectrum 2007 “Progress
Through Design” is scheduled from January 18 to 21.
“Engineering is connected to almost
every aspect of progress in society,”
says coordinator Evan Zuk. “And
engineering students are part of that.”
But students don’t often get to share
their interests with the general public.
“When you see students in classrooms,
you don’t know what they’re studying
or interested in. At Spectrum, U of S
students and the general public can
discover all the projects that U of S
engineering students are involved in.”
Over four days, students will show
off their projects, many of which will
be designed to be interactive so that
visitors experience them hands-on. At
the same time, they’ll have a chance
to connect with other exhibitors—
companies that are potential employers
of engineering grads. “This is a great
networking opportunity,” says Zuk.
“But it’s also more than that. It gives us
a chance to get children excited about
science and engineering.”
Spectrum has had huge success in
connecting with teachers and students
in past events. At Spectrum 2004,
3,600 elementary schoolaged children attended.
Spectrum 2007
6
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Registration is now open
and over 1,000 students are
already registered.
There will be an interesting
variety of engaging and
educational events going on
for students—and children of
all ages. The popular Starlab,
an indoor planetarium, will
be back. Segway Canada
will be offering up their
balance-controlled personal
transporters for test drives.
Diagrams showing the
details of the mechanism that
powers the transporters will
also be on display.
Sci-Fi Science Camps will be setting
up a children’s science corridor, full of
interactive science experiments. The
Saskatchewan Science Centre will be
presenting stage shows on alternative
energy and sustainability. Organizers
are also hoping to connect with a car
dealership to provide an electric-gas
hybrid car for display.
Spectrum promises to be one of the key
events of University of Saskatchewan’s
Centennial year. Organizers are
currently recruiting event and program
sponsors, as well as companies
interested in setting up exhibits at the
event. Sponsors and exhibitors will
be rewarded with exposure to U of
S engineering students as well as to
thousands of visitors from Saskatoon
and beyond.
Student happenings
Growing into Bigger Shoes
Sci-Fi Science Camps are celebrating 15 years of unprecedented success—and a transition to becoming a
College-based, rather than a student-run organization.
Since Sci-Fi’s inception in 1989, the
organization has grown to 22 staff and
offers fun and educational sciencethemed camps to 1,250 campers from
Grades Three to Nine every summer.
Staff also offer mobile camps in rural
and northern locations. From the
beginning, the organization has been
living up to its mission to deliver
hands-on science and technology
programs to Saskatchewan youth in
a fun and interactive manner. With
the new shift in the organization’s
direction, there are high hopes that SciFi’s success will grow.
“Big changes are happening this
year,” grins Director (and former SciFi camper) Kurt Touet. “It’s been a
great experience to be part of such an
amazing student-run program, but
becoming part of the College offers
benefits both to us and the College.”
For Sci-Fi, the organization will gain the
benefits of a full-time coordinator. In
the past, students were hired over the
summer months, but during the school
year, much of the work was done
on a volunteer basis, between class
schedules, projects and exams. Besides
full-time commitment from their new
coordinator, Sci-Fi will also benefit from
the College’s advanced fundraising
abilities.
From the first year
we started offering
science camps, we‘ve
been operating at
capacity.
Sci-Fi is a perfect fit for the College’s
outreach goals, with its efforts to
excite students about science both in
Saskatoon and throughout the province,
including a focus on Aboriginal
and northern communities. As the
organization makes this exciting shift,
everyone holds one thing certain: there
is unlimited room to grow.
“Our limitation has always been our
ability to provide the service,” explains
Kurt. “From the first year we started
offering science camps, we’ve been
operating at capacity. No matter how
many new programs we start up, or
how many kids we can accommodate,
we’re always turning people away.”
Possibilities for expansion are endless.
Sci-Fi is considering offering new
programs to Grades One and Two as
well as high school, beyond its current
service to Grades Three to Nine.
Promoting and developing the mobile
camps in rural and northern locations is
another possibility.
“If I had my way,” says Kurt, “I would
have every student in Saskatchewan
attend Sci-Fi camps. So with that
goal, we’ve got a lot of work to do.
The great thing is that it’s so easy
to see the rewards of this program:
reaching more children, watching them
get excited about science, growing
the organization—the rewards keep
coming.” And there’s no end in sight.
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7
Student happenings
Aiming for the MOON
Head for the moon…or somewhere close to it, by way of a space elevator
designed by engineering students at the U of S!
A space elevator—an impossibly tall
structure that would transport items
from Earth to Space—might seem like
something out of a science fiction story.
But at one time in history, the same was
said for ‘flying machines’, today known
as airplanes.
When the concept of flying was just
that—a concept—airplane enthusiasts
organized air shows to gather
together all the expertise and scientific
knowledge in one place, in the hope
that the combined effort would move
them more quickly toward their goal.
NASA has put a 21st century spin on
this approach. They’re holding open
design competitions on various spacerelated technologies in the hopes that
the combined effort will lead to a series
of prototypes by 2010.
At the 2006 XPrize Cup Space Elevator
Games in New Mexico in October,
the U of S Space Design Team (USST)
was the team to beat. USST President
Clayton Ruskowski is excited and
proud to be going in as the favourite
this year: “When you think of
Saskatchewan, you don’t often think
of emerging space technologies. And
yet we were competitive with teams
from MIT and Virginia Tech at an
international space competition.”
Last year’s challenge involved
constructing a solar-powered
space elevator prototype that would
climb to the top of a crane-suspended
200-foot vertical ribbon. No teams were
successful in reaching the top—and
only two teams managed to
get their prototypes to climb.
The U of S was one of those
teams, and their prototype
climbed 40 feet, while UBC’s
machine climbed only 20 feet.
This year, the USST’s goal is
to meet all the requirements
of the competition and finish
in first place. That goal is
not without its challenges—
such as the requirement
to design a power source
for the elevator—a process
that is both challenging and
costly. The team spent the summer
testing microwave- and laser-powered
techniques, and at the same time, was
searching for sponsorship partners to
meet costs.
Beyond design challenges for
students, USST
membership offers
several benefits.
“This is more
than a design
club,” explains
Ruskowski.
“We presented our results at the
Canadian Space Agency’s 5th Annual
Space Exploration Workshop. We
gained experience in networking and
presenting at high-profile events.”
The USST is constantly looking to
expand their talent pool as they hone
their competitive edge for this and
future years of design competition.
There’s a place for every engineering
discipline—the team deals with
structural issues, fuel source issues,
mechanical challenges, and more.
“We’re modeling our organization after
the Society for Automotive Engineers.
They have a devoted, interdisciplinary
membership and a long and successful
history. We plan to be around 10 years
from now.”
For more information on the USST’s
successes at the 2006 space elevator
competition, to join the Space
Design Team, or explore sponsorship
opportunities, visit www.usask.ca/usst.
8
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Engineering
Student
Activities Fund
Annual Report
May
1, 2005
— April
30,organization
2006 has grown to 22
Since Sci-Fi’s
inception
in 1989, the
staff, and offers fun and educational science-themed camps to 1250
campers from Grades Three to Nine. Staff also offer mobile camps in
rural and northern locations. From the beginning, the organization
has been living up to its mission to deliver hands-on science and
The
studentprograms
ActivitiestoFund
(SAF) wasyouth
created
technology
Saskatchewan
in aby
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and interactive
manner.
With
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there are
College of Engineering to assist students in enhancing their
high hopes that Sci-Fi’s success will grow.
History
university experience. The College of Engineering boasts
“Bigof
changes
are happening
this year,”
Directorwith
(andover
former
one
the most
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bodiesgrins
on campus
Sci-Fi camper) Kurt Touet. “It’s been a great experience to be part
20
formal student groups operating under one roof. The
of such an amazing student-run program, but becoming part of the
College offers benefits both to us and the College.”
formation of the SAF recognizes the College’s commitment
to a holistic education — believing in learning in and out of
For Sci-Fi, the organization will gain the benefits of a full-time
coordinator. In the past, students were hired over the summer
of
students
inception
ten much
years of
ago.
months,
but since
duringitsthe
school year,
the work was done on a
volunteer basis, between class schedules, projects and exams. Besides
full-time commitment from their new coordinator, Sci-Fi will also
benefit from the College’s advanced fundraising abilities.
the classroom. Donors to the SAF have supported hundreds
Administration
Donors
direct
donations
a specific
student
Sci-Fi is may
a perfect
fit their
for the
College’s to
outreach
goals,
with its efforts
group,
can donate
to the
SAF. All donations
to exciteorstudents
aboutgenerally
science both
in Saskatoon
and throughout
the province,
including
a focusan
onofficial
Aboriginal
and northern
made
to the SAF
will receive
tax receipt.
General
communities. As the organization makes this exciting shift, everyone
holds one thing certain: there is unlimited room to grow.
donations are administered by a Committee comprised
of students and faculty of the College. Student groups
“Our
limitation has
alwaysfor
been
our ability
to provide
service,”
are
encouraged
to apply
funding
throughout
thethe
year.
explains Kurt. “From the first year we started offering science
camps, we’ve been operating at capacity. No matter how many new
the
groupwe
hasstart
putup,
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other
number
of
programs
how many
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Requests are judged on the basis of how much effort
the
College. for expansion are endless. Sci-Fi is considering offering
Possibilities
new programs to Grades One and Two as well as high school,
beyond its current service to Grades Three to Nine. Promoting and
developing the mobile camps in rural and northern locations is
another possibility.
Total Dollars Raised in 2005/06:
General Fund
$ 3,676.00
“If I had my way,” says Kurt, “I would have every student in
Designated
10,197.08
SaskatchewanFund$
attend Sci-Fi
camps. So with that goal, we’ve got a lot
of work to do. The great thing is that it’s so easy to see the rewards
of this program: reaching more children, watching them get excited
about science, growing the organization—the rewards keep coming.”
And there’s no end in sight.
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9
Donor Recognition
The College of Engineering acknowledges, with gratitude,
our many donors who generously support the College and
the programs and services offered. We thank all donors
including those who have chosen to remain anonymous.
Those who have passed away are gratefully acknowledged
and marked with an asterisk*.
The following list recognizes individuals and
corporations who have ongoing pledges to the College
as well as those who have given donations of $500 or
more between May 1, 2005 and April 30, 2006. For a
complete list of all donors please visit our website at
www.engr.usask.ca/alumni.
Corporations
Over $1 Million
$1,000 TO $4,999
$500 TO $999
Cameco Corporation
Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd.
American Society of Heating
Refrigerating & Air Conditioning
AMEC Americas Inc.
$100,000 TO $500,000
Associated Engineering (Sask) Ltd.
Gibson Energy Ltd.
BMO Financial Group
Shell Canada Limited
Burlington Resources
Canada Limited
$25,000 TO $99,999
Canadian Institute of Steel
Construction
BJ Services Company Canada
Flint Energy Services Ltd.
Cement Association of Canada
CIC
I.E.E.E. North Saskatchewan Section
Saskatchewan Land Surveyors
Association
Saskatchewan Mining
Association Inc.
EECOL Electric Ltd.
$10,000 TO $24,999
Heisler Engineering Ltd.
Saskatoon Engineering Students’
Society Inc.
ARC Energy Trust
Honey Bee Manufacturing Ltd
Saskatoon Geotechnical Group
Association of Professional
Engineers & Geoscientists of
Saskatchewan
Husky Energy
True Energy Inc.
I.E.E.E. Canadian Foundation
Woloshyn & Company
Pason Systems Inc.
PrimeWest Energy Inc.
ShawCor Ltd.
Weyerhaeuser Company Limited
Elk Valley Coal
John Deere Foundation of Canada
Luscar Ltd.
Minetec Sales Inc.
Morris Industries Ltd.
Nexen Inc.
O’Connor Associates
Environmental Inc.
$5,000 TO $9,999
Sanjel Corporation
EECOL Electric (Sask.) Ltd.
Saskatchewan Research Council
Rain Maker Irrigation
Saskatoon Engineering Society
Saskatoon Light & Power
Saskcon Repair Services Ltd.
SaskPower
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Suncor Energy Foundation
TKE Energy Inc.
Twister Pipe Ltd.
10
Chevron Canada Limited
Peak Energy Services Ltd.
Dow Chemical Company
Canadian Society for Civil
Engineering – Saskatoon Section
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Individuals
Over $1 Million
R.A. Bittner
Dave Rushford
L.H. Chater
H.J. Parsneau
Ron & Jane Graham
Ron Britton
G.J. Schoenau
K.J. Chow
John Patrick
G.W. La Borde
Jack Brooks
Kenn Schoenroth
D. Didjusto
E.A. Paynter
Doc Seaman
Clinton T. Broughton
Don Smith
C.D. Fairburn
B.R. Peachey
W.R. Bullock
L.E. Sparling
D.G. Fredlund
D.G. Perkins
$25,000 TO $99,999
Lynn Danbrook
Ken Stephenson
G.T. Gingara
G.D. Perkins
M. Cacic
H.G. Dutka
Stan Strilchuk
A. Tait Given
Bob Peterson
S.M. Crabtree
L. Gan
D.J. Sweeney
Rene Godin
Brad Prather
Jack Mollard
Bob Gander
Z.B. Szczepanik
G.D. Grant
D.E. Pufahl
J.A. Niedermaier
Derek Gould*
K.S. Teh
B.C. Griswold
Dean Reidt
Al Schreiner
K.M. Haluik
M.M. Tomilin
Murray Hall
J.D. Roberts
Bob Steele
R.J. Hartmann
D.A. Torvi
John W. Harborenko
W.J. Rutherford
Jim Hay
T.R. Viswanathan
R.M. Harry
G. Sarkar
$10,000 TO $24,999
Steve Heidt
Rod Wade
C.P. Hedlin
K.A. Scheidt
C.A. Annable
K.R. Herman
Vic Walls
L.M. Hendry
L.G. Schnitzler
Doug Annable
Murray Hunter
Jim Walmsley
T.B.G. Hicks
B.J. Seaman
R.M. Baillie
Dave Ilsley
Bud Watson
Wayne Holden
C.T. Simmonds
E.L. Broberg
L.E. Jackson
D.A. Weiler-Thiessen
J.U. Huber
J.A. Steacy
Mel Hosain
Rod K. Karius
Brett Wilson
G.W. Knowles
Dick Strayer
K. Jones
Jim Kells
M.G. Wilson
K.D. LaPaire
R.A. Swanson
B.T. Korchinski
Allan Kerr
P.K.K. Wong
R.G. Lawrence
M.B. Taylor
R.A. Kuchinka
Lawrence Koroluk
Kim Ziobrowski
Jim Lee
M.B. Todd
R. Jack Pirie
Don Kovacs
D.W. Lesanko
J.W. Tuck
C. Lague
$500 TO $999
H.A. Lissel
R.W. Van Fossen
Russ Lemcke
L.E. Anderson
G.N. Listwin
D.E. Wadsworth
I.H. Mackay
W.M. Backlund
D.J. Magus
M.K. Wallin
Lindsay Milne
Doug Barber
F.L. Mannering
R.C. West
C.D. Motion
J.P. Barber
J.B. Mantle
G.A. Wilde
D.D. Munro
Terry Bergan
W.E. Martin
K.W. Wilkinson
C.A. Nygren
V.H. Berry
J.J. McCartan
R.K. Wood
A. Pandila
Byron Birch
D.R. McColl
Amber Wright
S.M. Pask
G.R. Booker
L.A. McGilp
J.S. Yee
$1,000 TO $4,999
Dave Peterson
P.M. Butler
Larry Mewhort
G.C. Zoerb
J.F. Angel
Bill Powell
Alex Campbell
R.J. Millsap
Howard Ascroft
S.R. Prodanuk
W.J. Campbell
H.C. Mollard
M.P. Bachynski
J.M. Putnam
D.A. Cargill
D.L. Myers
D.J.J. Baudais
G.J. Putz
R.C. Carlson
Ken Nelson
Bill Bergman
L.E. Robin
F.W. Catterall
J.R. Norman
J.K. Read
D.J. Sandmeyer
D.R. Seaman
$5,000 TO $9,999
Estate of M.A.
Matheson
Clem Roles
R.L. Williams
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list, we acknowledge that errors may
have occurred. If your name has been omitted or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincere apology
and forward corrections to engr.alumni@usask.ca.
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11
Advancement Report
As you will notice throughout this issue, the College of Engineering recognizes and values
donor and volunteer support. We have long ago realized that one of our College’s greatest
strengths is in its alumni. The alumni commitment and connection to the College has allowed
us to grow and to ensure that our College remains an alma mater that you can be proud of.
We have been particularly successful in achieving
funding for two very important initiatives. The
Engineering Entrepreneurship Option began last year
as a result of a $1 Million endowment that was created
by Mr. George La Borde (BE ’70).
More recently we received a commitment of $3.27
Million from Ron Graham (BE ‘62) and his wife Jane
(B Ed ’62) in support of the newly named Ron and
Jane Graham Centre for the Study of Communication.
In addition to the Graham gift, we were also fortunate
to receive another significant donation that allowed
us the necessary capital to begin renovations on the
2nd floor of A Wing to accommodate the Centre.
A feature article in our next issue of Thorough will
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provide all of the details surrounding the progress of
the Centre and the official grand opening.
Annual support of the Engineering Dean’s Fund and
the Engineering Advancement Trust continues to be
strong and provides the College with ongoing support
for our undergraduate programs.
We are pleased with the increased support of
scholarships for our students. Assistance in this
area not only benefits our current students, but also
provides an excellent recruiting tool to attract the best
and the brightest of students to apply to our College.
A deficiency in adequate space requirements has led
to the launch of our Building Expansion Fund. An
informational brochure is included in this package and
we hope you will take a look at it.
A complete College Progress Report for 2005/2006 can
be found on our website, and we invite you to visit it
at www.engr.usask.ca/alumni.
Once again this year, the College had the pleasure of
welcoming back our alumni who attended Reunion
2006. It was a great weekend full of events, shared
memories, and laughter! The largest group of alumni
in attendance – again – was from the College of
Engineering! We look forward to hosting our alumni
in 2007 as the University celebrates 100 years. We hope
that many of you will consider returning to campus
for our celebration activities.
As always, I invite you to contact me at any time, with
any questions, and I welcome your interest in getting
involved with College activities or alumni events.
Lynn Danbrook, Development Officer
Dean’s Office, Ph: (306) 966-1731 or
lynn.danbrook@usask.ca
Peter N. Nikiforuk Innovation Teaching and Learning Centre:
Great Service Greater Potential
When professors or students need technical
support, from the classic overhead projector to
digital video capabilities, they turn to the Peter
N. Nikiforuk Innovative Teaching and Learning
Centre (ITLC). The ITLC is a one-stop resource
for both hardware and expertise.
Students often stop in to sign out digital cameras
and projectors; professors use the ITLC’s
capabilities to help them get course-related
materials on-line. While these services keep
Director Glen Hauser and one full-time and one
student part-time staff busy during the school
year, they’re always looking for new ways to
apply their skills.
The ITLC is making a
name for itself producing
publication CD-ROMs for
engineering conferences.
Over the summer, the ITLC team redesigned
the College of Engineering website, installing a
dynamic content management system that allows
departments to make online updates to their own
content areas. “It’s one of the simplest updating
tools we could develop,” beams Hauser. “It
should make the whole process much easier for
departments.”
The ITLC is also making a name for itself
producing publication CD-ROMs for engineering
conferences. Their product, complete with all
conference papers, conference information and a
searchable index, were distributed with conference
packages for the Canadian Climate Change
Conference in Ottawa and the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers.
Two successful interactive learning modules on
Heat Transfer and Amplitude Density demonstrate
the ITLC’s skills in developing innovative
approaches to learning. The ITLC team sees great
potential in creating similar modules on other
topics. While funding is currently limited, Hauser
is hopeful that they will be able to focus on more
learning modules in the future.
Tao Wang is the Media Programmer for the ITLC
The ITLC has set up an online annual activity
report and research report. This enables faculty to
update information on publications, conferences,
and research that they are actively pursuing. This
information is then compiled to generate the
annual activity reports and the annual research
reports for the college. The data gathered is
also used to automatically update the faculty
webpages. This has generated interest among
other colleges on campus and the ITLC team hopes
to be in a position to offer this tool to them.
The ITLC team is eager to expand their scope
and provide innovative learning expertise to the
College of Engineering and beyond. “We have the
tools, and we have the expertise,” says Hauser.
“We’re looking forward to demonstrating how
much we can do.”
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13
Department updates
Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering
presently has 19 faculty members and 8 staff
members. Over the past two years, three
new professors have joined the department:
Yang Shi (controls), Fang-Xiang Wu (bioengineering), and Qiaoqin Yang (materials).
Professor Yang holds a Canada Research
Chair (CRC) in Nanoengineering Coating
Technologies. Her research involves the
synthesis of new materials and coatings for
modifying surface properties which include
carbon nanotubes and diamond thin films.
Currently the faculty research areas are in
Applied Mechanics, Materials and Metallurgy,
Manufacturing and Design, Fluid Mechanics
and Thermal Sciences, Bio-engineering, and
Robotics, Fluid Power and Control Systems.
The faculty research is supported by NSERC
and collaborative research programs with
industries from across Canada. Last year,
total research funding exceeded $2M.
The foundation of our reputation continues
to be an excellent undergraduate program.
Our undergraduate enrolment (years 2,
3, and 4) over the past academic year
was 274 (27% of the College enrollment).
Our students continue to be successful in
pursuing engineering careers in industry
and elsewhere. The undergraduate program
emphasizes engineering design.
This past year, the capstone design course,
ME 495, included 26 different design projects,
the largest number of student projects on
record! Seventy-eight senior students were
involved in topics proposed by industry,
which ranged from new Wind Machines
for the Nevada Automotive Test Centre,
to Semi-Trailer Truck Frames for Doepker
Industries. A unique Modular Chain-Saw
Bar design for Saskatchewan Environment
and Prince Albert Forestry Centre went on
to win first place in Innovative Design at the
Saskatoon Engineering Design Competition
(2006). The final design project presentations
were presented to more than 200 students,
faculty and industry clients at the Travelodge
Hotel. This year the Potash Corporation
of Saskatchewan, Cameco Corp, and
Weyerhaeuser of Canada sponsored the event.
Our graduate program has already achieved
most of the University’s goals for research
intensiveness including the development of
successful graduate programs at both the MSc
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and PhD level. Our average enrollment is
typically 75 students (60% international). Our
graduate students are pursuing thesis research
projects in diverse areas of mechanical
engineering, and also work as teaching
assistants and lab demonstrators. One of
our goals for the coming years would be to
increase the number of industry-sponsored
scholarships.
Individual faculty members continue to strive
for excellence in both teaching and research.
Last year Professor Jim Bugg received a
MERLOT Award for Exemplary On-line
Learning Resources, in this case the thermal
power plant micro-module he developed
for ME 227. He was also recognized as the
SES Educator of the Year. On the research
side, Professors Q. Yang and D. Chen are
the most recent recipients of CFI awards for
capital equipment to support their developing
research programs. Details of these and other
accomplishments can be viewed on our
website (www.engr.usask.ca/dept/mee/).
Faculty:
Department Head
Don Bergstrom
James Bugg
Richard Burton
Daniel Chen
Allan Dolovich
Reza Fotouhi
Barry Hertz
Ikechukwuka Oguocha
Greg Schoenau
Yang Shi
Carey Simonson
David Sumner
Walerian Szyszkowski
David Torvi
Fang Xiang Wu
Qiaoqin Yang
Chris Zhang
There continues to be much to celebrate in
Mechanical Engineering at the U of S. It was
no surprise that this past March more than
200 students and family members attended
the Mechanical Engineering Graduation
Banquet at the Saskatoon Inn to acknowledge
the accomplishments of the 2006 graduating
class, and the support of their family and
friends.
New faculty members: Fang Xiang Wu, Qiaoqin Yang and Yang Shi
A recent strategic plan for the Department
of Civil & Geological Engineering has
been to focus the last two faculty positions
towards the development of strength in the
area of Infrastructure Management with a
focus on Life Cycle Engineering (condition
assessment and performance prediction) and
Infrastructure Economics (economic theory
and decision analyses).
New faculty member, Dr. Lisa Feldman, is
the first of these two positions. Her research
interests include the evaluation and repair
of reinforced concrete bridges, the service
life prediction of bridges, and the bond
and development of historical and FRP
reinforcement. She has extensive consulting
engineering experience, and has worked on
numerous landmark projects including the
Confederation Bridge, and the 1999/2000
Centre Street Bridge Rehabilitation in Calgary.
She was also the first, and so far only,
Canadian recipient of a prestigious American
Concrete Institute (ACI) Student Fellowship.
Retirement
Joining the Department in 1969 as a Lecturer,
Professor Dennis Pufahl retired this summer.
He had been the Department Head for 10
years. He obtained his B.Sc. in Engineering
from the U of S in 1961 and completed his
masters degree at the U of S in 1970. His
doctoral degree is from the University of
Alberta in 1976. Dennis’ area of expertise is in
Geotechnical Engineering, and he has a long
list of publications and graduate students to
his credit.
The Department changed its curriculum
significantly under Dennis’ leadership.
Dennis lead the campaign for the Geological
Engineering Program at the U of S to join
the Department of Civil Engineering. He
also supported the subsequent name change
to Department of Civil and Geological
Engineering. Dennis was closely involved
in developing the Infrastructure Economics
and Management Position in the College
of Engineering and bringing it to the
Department. He was also passionately
involved with the College’s Study Abroad
Program.
Dennis Pufahl also Chaired the Organizing
Committee of the 58th Canadian Geotechnical
Conference and 6th IAH-CNC Specialty
Conference held in Saskatoon last year.
He received many accolades for his
Chairmanship.
Mel Hosain
Appreciation Dinner
On April 29, 2006,
approximately 230 alumni
and friends gathered in
the Adam Ballroom of
the Delta Bessborough
Hotel in downtown Saskatoon to pay tribute
to the life work of Prof. Emeritus Mel Hosain,
a member of the Dept. of Civil and Geological
Engineering since 1969. Guests from as far
away as West Lafayette, Indiana; Seattle,
Washington; and Toronto, Ontario were in
attendance. Following a wonderful four
course dinner, a number of tributes were
given by former colleagues and students,
industrial partners and friends of Prof.
Hosain.
CSCE Saskatoon 2004 Annual
National Conference Scholarship
Department updates
Civil & Geological Engineering
Faculty:
Department Head
S. Lee Barbour
Curtis Berthelot
Mohamed Boulfiza
Amin Elshorbagy
Lisa Feldman
Ian Fleming
Moir Haug
Christopher Hawkes
Jim Kells
Kerry Mazurek
Douglas Milne
Jian Peng
Gordon Putz
Jitendra Sharma
Gordon Sparks
Bruce Sparling
Leon Wegner
PROMOTIONS
& TENURE
Professors Fleming, Elshorbagy
and Sharma received tenure
Current Section Chair, Patrick Lalache
(on left) and Conference Chair, Jim
Kells (on right) presenting the cheque
to Brenda Bitner from the College of
Engineering.
Professor Elshorbagy was also
promoted to be an Associate
Professor
AWARDS & HONOURS
The 2004 annual conference of the Canadian
Society for Civil Engineering was held
in Saskatoon from June 2 – 5, 2004. The
conference was a wonderful success,
particularly from a financial aspect. The
membership of the Saskatoon Section
elected to make a donation of $50,000 to the
University of Saskatchewan for the purpose
of endowing two scholarships to be given
annually to students entering their third and
fourth year of the civil engineering program.
The first awards will be made in the 2006-2007
school year.
Professor Dennis Pufahl
Canadian Geotechnical
Society’s A.G. Stermac Award
for Outstanding Service to the
Canadian Geotechnical Society.
This was awarded at Vancouver
Canadian Geotechnical
Conference, October 02, 2006.
Dr. Bruce Sparling, has been
honoured with Fellow of the
Canadian Society of Civil
Engineering
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15
Department updates
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Exciting changes are afoot in the Department
of Electrical Engineering, including the
establishment of a new Computer Engineering
program, and the resulting addition of new
faculty members.
The current changes add to our already
excellent reputation. The Department
ranked 8th out of the 27 Canadian electrical
engineering departments surveyed in the 1999
Gourman Report—the most recent national
survey of professional colleges. The faculty
consists of experts in many areas of electrical
and computer engineering and opportunities
exist to participate in their research programs.
The Department hosts the Barbhold Chair of
Information Technology, the Canada Research
Chair of Material Science, and the Canada
Research Chair in Micro and Nano Device
Fabrication.
The Computer Engineering program is
new to the University of Saskatchewan; the
Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering began accepting secondyear students to the program in 2006. The
Computer Engineering program is designed
to be relevant to current technologies. The
program is scheduled to be reviewed by the
Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board
in 2008. Like the Electrical Engineering
program, on which the Computer Engineering
program is based, we expect to receive full
accreditation.
Dr. Sven Achenbach, Canada Research Chair
in Micro and Nano Device Fabrication, is
offering another new elective class to 3rd and
4th year undergraduate students. He will be
teaching a multidisciplinary introduction to
Micro and Nano Technology.
Our students have several opportunities to
get involved with societies and other special
events. The student chapter of the Institute
for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
hosts many functions during the year such
as the High Voltage Classic road hockey
tournament to raise money for charity, the
big brother, little brother Christmas dinner,
and a job-hunting field trip to Calgary. This
outstanding group regularly wins regional
and national awards and repeatedly raises
more money for charity than any similar
group in Canada.
Our faculty members continue to be extremely
active in research as well as professional
involvement. For example, Safa Kasap
recently co-chaired the 2006 International
Conference on Optical, Optoelectronic and
Photonic Materials and Applications in
Darwin, Australia. Current research projects
are underway in all our research areas of
Communications, Digital Systems and
Instrumentation, Electronic Materials and
Power Systems.
Faculty:
Department Head
David Dodds
Sven Achenbach
Ron Bolton
Li Chen
Nurul Chowdhury
Brian Daku
Anh Dinh
Sherif Faried
Bob Gander
Ramakrishna Gokaraju
Robert Johanson
Safa Kasap
Rajesh Karki
David Klymyshyn
Seok-Bum Ko
Denard Lynch
Carl McCrosky
Ha Nguyen
Aryan Saadat Mehr
Eric Salt
Kunio Takaya
Daniel Teng
Upper year Computer Engineering courses
allow students to focus on such topics as
digital signal processing, microprocessor
hardware and software, communications
theory, digital microcircuit design and
verification, advanced programming and data
structures and networks. Students will also
have the opportunity to gain further practical
experience through an internship program.
As part of the new program, we’d like to
welcome Carl McCrosky to the faculty.
He is new to the Department of Electrical
Engineering, having spent seven years
as a Principal Engineer with PMC-Sierra
(Saskatoon), preceded by thirteen years as
a Professor of Computer Science here at
the University of Saskatchewan. He will
be teaching Computer Engineering 451,
Transport Networks.
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“A great engineering design program and approachable and knowledgeable
professors have given us a definite competitive edge in the electronics industry.
The department’s support of class-related and personal projects provided us
with a very strong practical background that has served us well in Silicon Valley.
University of Saskatchewan Engineering also boasts a great student community
that really makes the university experience outstanding.”
— Carl Norum (B.E. 2004) & Stan Rabu (B.E. 2003)
iPod Engineering, Apple Computer, Inc.
The Department of Agricultural and
Bioresource Engineering is currently home
to 12 faculty members and 6 staff. Specialties
in the Department range from machinery
systems and applications to waste utilization,
soil and water conservation and value-added
processing.
We currently have 40 graduate students,
including 12 PhDs, three of whom are Dean’s
(College of Graduate Studies and Research)
Scholars and four others who hold prestigious
NSERC postgraduate scholarships.
Saying Good-Bye
There are going to be some changes to our
department over the next year. Claude
Laguë, former Dean of Engineering, and also
Saskatchewan Pork Chair in Environmental
Engineering is moving on to his new position
as Dean of Engineering at the University of
Ottawa.
Dr. Lal Kushwaha will be retiring at the end
of this year. Through Dr. Kushwaha’s research
the Department has developed several soil
bin facilities, each with specialized features.
The Landmine Neutralization program in
cooperation with the Department of Defense
brought the Terra Mechanics Rig (TMR) to the
Department in 2003.
It was through the efforts of Dr. Kushwaha
that these and other pieces of equipment were
brought to the Department and continue to
keep the Department on the cutting edge of
Agricultural Machinery systems.
students in all disciplines to learn and practice
teamwork, all aspects of the engineering
design process and manufacturing, and to
make contacts with students and potential
employers world wide. The Department is
extremely proud of the accomplishments of
our students. Their professionalism and work
ethic make them excellent ambassadors for
the department, college and university.
Two other students in our department,
Meghan Kolybaba and Kimberley Tang,
were awarded a $5,000 Technology-in-Action
Scholastic Bursary from the Saskatchewan
Research Council (SRC). Meghan and
Kimberley completed an engineering design
capstone project on the “Optimization of the
Process Design for Simultaneous or Sequential
Extraction of Flaxseed Mucilage and Oil”.
They were supervised by Dr. Lope Tabil and
Dr. Bob Tyler (Applied Microbiology and
Food Science Dept.).
Department updates
Ag Bio Engineering
Faculty:
Department Head
Trever Crowe
Oon-Doo Baik
Ross Barclay
Bob Brad
Terrance Fonstad
Huiqing Guo
Gordon Kent
R. Lal Kushwaha
Charles Maule
Venkatesh Meda
Lope Tabil
Ross Welford
This project is a step towards the utilization
of the entire flax plant, investigating the
feasibility of extracting both the mucilage
and oil from flaxseed. Presently, only the
oil is extracted from flaxseed for food and
industrial uses. If this process is commercially
developed (extraction of mucilage prior to
oil extraction), flax growers on the prairies
will have another demand for their product.
Consumers will enjoy the health benefits of
flax mucilage, and the economy could benefit
from the manufacture of this product.
The Department is particularly proud of Dr.
Kushwaha’s accomplishments and what he
has brought to the University and wishes him
the best in his retirement in 2007.
Student Achievements
The Department also has much to take pride
in among its students. For the past five years
the Uof S Sled Dogs ¼ Scale Tractor Team
has competed at the American Society of
Agricultural & Biological Engineers (ASABE)
¼ Scale Tractor Design Competition. The
2006 team placed 11th of 30 teams (no small
feat considering that some of the large U.S.
Colleges have budgets that range in the
hundreds of thousands of dollars).
The ASABE ¼ Scale Tractor Design
Competition is a great opportunity for
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17
Department updates
Chemical Engineering
In 2002, the Chemical Engineering
Department moved out of its historical home
in the Thorvaldson building to occupy new
and larger space (4500 m2) in the Engineering
Building. Alumni might be saddened to see
their old student lounge, classrooms and
laboratories in Thorvaldson now otherwise
occupied. But it is comforting that the
airplane lecture room has survived.
The curriculum within the Department has
changed considerably over the years to keep
pace with the changing needs of the local,
national and international Chemical Process
Industries, other academic institutions and
society at large. The Department recently
formulated its strategic directions to
include: i) Petroleum and Gas Processing; ii)
Environment and Renewable Energy; and
iii) Biochemical and Bioprocessing. A fourth
area of future interest given sufficient faculty
numbers would be Mineral Processing.
Recently, Dow Chemical Canada made
generous funding contributions to the
Department for the acquisition of new course
materials in the areas of Process Design and
Process Management, as well as assistance
for the half-million-dollar upgrade of the
Chemical Engineering undergraduate
laboratories.
Matching this growth in facilities is a steady
rise in the number of graduating students.
Chemical Engineering students are actively
involved in the Student Chapter of the
Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering,
the College Engineering Students Society and
programs such as Engineers Without Borders,
SciFi (summer engineering camp), Spectrum
and Encouraging Enrolment in Engineering.
Students have won many honours over the
past decade including the Best Presentation
and SNC-Lavalin Plant Design Awards at the
Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering
Conference; APEGS Gold Medal for Top
Academic Achievement in the College
of Engineering; SPE Western Canadian
Presentation Award; and both the Innovative
Design and Students Papers Presentation
Awards within the College of Engineering.
18
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The faculty of the Department have gained
considerable recognition at the national
and international levels in their areas of
research, which include transportation of
slurries, corrosion/erosion of pipelines,
catalytic production of fuels and chemicals,
modelling of fluidization and fluid flow,
thermodynamics of hydrocarbon mixtures,
fermentation of biomass to value-added
biochemicals, and bioremediation of industrial
pollutants in water, soil and air.
Their research was supported by a total of
$1,525,000 in funds and disseminated in
25 refereed publications, 1 book chapter,
10 technical reports and 58 conference
presentations during the academic year
2004-2005.
Clifton Shook (Emeriti) won the 2001 RS Jane
Award (lifetime contribution to slurry flow
research). We were saddened by his recent
passing. Ajay Dalai was appointed (2001)
and then re-appointed (2006) as a Canada
Research Chair (in the area of environmentally
friendly and renewable fuels), Richard
Evitts won the 2004 Saskatoon Engineering
Society’s Educator of the Year Award, and
Ding-Yu Peng won the 2006 Donald L. Katz
award from the International Gas Processors
Association (for the Peng-Robinson Equation
of State).
Some of the Chemical Engineering faculty
Faculty:
Department Head
Gordon Hill
Ajay Dalai
Richard Evitts
Yen-Han Lin
Mehdi Nemati
Catherine Niu
D. Y Peng
Aaron Phoenix
Todd Pugsley
Robert Sumner
Hui Wang
C.J. Mackenzie
Memorial Lecture and Banquet
The 2006 C.J. Mackenzie Memorial Lecture
and Banquet was held on January 18, 2006.
Dr. Morrel Bachynski
This year’s Distinguished Graduate Lecturer
was Dr. Morrel Bachynski who graduated
from the University of Saskatchewan
in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Engineering Physics. Dr.
Bachynski is the President and
founder of MPB Technologies Inc.
This year’s lecture was titled,
Engineers in the 21st Century.
The College of Engineering is pleased to add Dr.
Bachynski to our Alumni Wall of Distinction. A position
on the Wall is a symbol of prestige and is intended to
honour lifetime career achievements of distinguished
alumni and to recognize their contributions to their
profession and to society.
To nominate alumni to the Wall of Distinction or to view
previous inductees, please visit www.engr.usask.ca/alumni
2007 C.J. Mackenzie Memorial
Lecture and Banquet
January 18th 2007, Sheraton Cavalier Hotel, Saskatoon
The 2007 Distinguished Graduate is:
Ms. Andrea Cherkas
• BE (Chemical Engineering) 1983
• Principal, The Cherkas Group Inc. (TCG)
For tickets or more information please
contact the College of Engineering at:
Ms. Andrea Cherkas
Phone: (306) 966-4760
jean.horosko@usask.ca
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19
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