MacEngineer Fall 2005

F A C U L T Y O F E N G I N E E R I N G M C M A S T E R U N I V E R S I T Y F A L L 2 0 0 5

TheMacEngineerVOLUME 30 NUMBER 3TheMacEngineer

Keep the spirit alive... See Upcoming Alumni Events pages 10-11

Keep the spirit alive... See Upcoming Alumni Events pages 10-11

the goal of a new engineering group oncampus called “Society’s Challenge.” Thispast May, 11 engineering students appliedtheir McMaster education to life in ElMatazanos, a Guatemalan village whereschool is a privilege for its 40,000 inhabitants.These students, in their final year of theEngineering & Society Program, traveled toGuatemala to apply the engineering knowl-edge they acquired at McMaster into buildinga one-room addition to a new high school.

McMaster’s academic and researchperformance has been recognized world-wide. Ranked as one of the Top 100 univer-sities in the world from the Institute ofHigher Education at Shanghai Jiao TongUniversity in China, McMaster is one ofonly four Canadian universities to make thelist. A high ranking in the survey is consid-ered a huge boost to a university because itdraws the attention of potential faculty andstudent recruits the world over.

These and many other internationalinitiatives support the Faculty’s strategicobjective of growth while improvingquality and our position as one of Canada’stop Engineering schools. We invite you tojoin us and reach out to the world.

A message from the Dean

2 The MacEngineer M c M A S T E R U N I V E R S I T Y

Engineering News...................4

Upcoming Events .................10

Alumni Profiles .....................13

Hey Alumni! Have you got something tosay, or any other news? We would like to hearfrom you. Contact Carm Vespi:

Tel: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24906Fax: (905) 546-5492e-mail: [email protected]: www.eng.mcmaster.ca

The MacEngineer is published by the EngineeringFaculty for its alumni. Distribution assistance isprovided by the Alumni Office.

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inside this issue

Mo Elbestawi

Adiverse student population enrichesthe educational experience for allour students and faculty. That is

the philosophy we embrace within theFaculty of Education at McMaster.

Looking into the engineering class-rooms, labs and offices on campus, it iseasy to see that we are practicing thephilosophy we believe. And we’re workingto extend that reach even further.

We have embarked on a series of initia-tives that will draw new internationalstudents to both our undergraduate and grad-uate program from countries such as Brazil,Mexico, India, South Korea and China. Thisbuilds on the links we currently have withnumerous European and US universities.

Plans are currently underway to launch acooperative summer study abroad programin Russia in cooperation with Michigan

State University. The new program offersstudents the opportunity to broaden theireducational experience and prepare to fullyfunction in a global economy. This programwill provide an experience rich in culture,language and history while offeringacademic content that is as good as thatfound in comparable courses on campus.Plans for a similar program in Brazil arealso in the works.

The Faculty has become increasinglyinvolved around the world in exchange agree-ments, institutional collaborations and inter-national student exchange programs. Theseare concerned with collaborative research,education and human resource development.A number of Memos of Understandings havebeen prepared to facilitate exchanges withother universities. Last year we signed anagreement with Manchester University tofacilitate the exchange between our Centrefor Engineering Entrepreneurship andInnovation in the new McMaster School ofEngineering Practice.

Internationalization of our programshelps our faculty develop partnerships withcolleagues abroad that result in researchinitiatives that can stimulate economicgrowth. By embarking on internationalprograms, these partnerships with overseasfaculty promote cutting edge research inthe field of engineering, technology and thesciences strengthening our work at home. Itis believed that economic growth and thegeneral welfare of nations are acceleratedthrough the cycle of education, researchand technology transfer.

And our students are active internationallyas well. Engineers Without Borders (EWB) isanother avenue that introduces students toglobal concerns. The purpose of EWB atMcMaster is to seek and publicize researchopportunities and encourage students toundertake research on technical developmentproblems. These projects are organized andimplemented in developing communities.The McMaster chapter also advertises andfacilitates internships for students.

Helping to build a computer classroom was

Mo Elbestawi, Dean of Engineering

Reaching out to the world

Mrs. Lucy Sheung is our new Manager forOutreach and Enrolment, Ms. CarolynRunkvist is our new AdministrativeCoordinator, while Dr. Susan Masten hasjust joined the Department of CivilEngineering and will be the new Directorfor Engineering 1 for the next five years.

Lucy Sheung joined us last yearfollowing a successful career at RyersonUniversity,York University and CentennialCollege. We have already seen manyresults of her work, including increasedinternational exposure of our programs,new scholarship programs aimed at womenin engineering, and the now-famous

podcasts from Radio Fireball. These pack-aged audio programs in MP3 format havegained national and international attention.They can be downloaded onto iPods orstreamed onto computers (http://www.engpodcast.com/). Give it a try!

Susan Masten comes to us fromMichigan State University, where she led asuccessful research program in Environ-mental Engineering, with a focus on theremoval of toxic substances from water.More importantly for this Office, she has avery strong interest in pedagogy and willbe working with us to bring McMaster tothe forefront of Engineering Education.She is already at work with a review of ouracademic support services and with thedesign of the Integrated Learning Centrethat is being planned for the new building,which will house the School forEngineering Practice.

On the student side, our solar car teamhas taken their new car, the Phoenix, toAustin, TX. It is undergoing safety inspec-tions prior to its departure on the 2005North American Solar Challenge. Thisyear’s Challenge will take them and theircompetitors on a cross-country race toWinnipeg and then on to Calgary. We arevery proud of their efforts and we wishthem fair weather!

Peter SmithAssociate Dean (Academic)

A message from the Associate Dean

The MacEngineer 3M c M A S T E R U N I V E R S I T Y

Dr. Peter Smith Associate Dean of Engineering

It is mid-July as I write this and we aregetting ready for the arrival of new andreturning students in September. We have

once again easily met our enrolment targetsfor Level 1, demonstrating that McMastercontinues to be one of the most popular desti-nations for Engineering students.

I have just returned from a very enjoy-able trip to Delhi, India, and was delightedto see the reputation that we have estab-lished in that country. I was particularlyimpressed with the degree to whichstudents are interested in higher educationand I look forward to strengthening ourrelationships with Indian institutions.

On the home front, there are some newfaces in key roles within the Faculty. Dr.Ken Coley will be taking over from Dr.Gordon Irons as Chair of Materials Scienceand Engineering, and Dr. Martin vonMohrenschildt will be taking over from Dr.Paul Taylor as Acting Chair for Computingand Software. Within the Office of theAssociate Dean, we have three new people:

From left to right: Dr. Susan Masten, LucySheung and Carolyn Runkvist.

science and technology can beapplied to the formulation ofpublic policy solutions.

Prior to her appointment to theIJC, Dr. Krantzberg, who receivedher Ph.D. from the University ofToronto (1988), worked for theOntario Ministry of the Environ-ment. A specialist in contaminantcycling and its ecological effects,Dr. Krantzberg worked as a sedimentspecialist and senior policy advisor on theGreat Lakes. While with the Ministry, shereceived the Premier’s Amethyst Award forexcellence in public service, most especially

for her work in coordinating the firstsuccessful cleanup of CollingwoodHarbour, one of the 43 Great Lakes‘areas of concern’.

The author of more than 90scientific and policy articles onissues pertaining to ecosystemquality and public policy, Dr.Krantzberg is a past president ofthe International Association of

Great Lakes Research and of the OntarioCentre for Environmental Health, and afounding member of the Clean WaterFoundation. She continues to serve onnumerous boards and committees.

Dr. Gail Krantzberg, a professor inthe civil engineering department,is the first director of McMaster’s

Centre for Engineering and Public Policy.Krantzberg, appointed in July 1st, came toMcMaster from the International JointCommission (IJC) Great Lakes RegionalOffice in Windsor, Ontario, where sheserved as Director from 2001 to June 2005.

The first of its kind in Canada, theCentre for Engineering and Public Policy ispart of the Faculty of Engineering’s newSchool for Engineering Practice. TheCentre’s post-graduate students will studytechnology’s impact on society and how

New director has extensive public policy experience

Gail Krantzberg

Leader: Dr. Jerry Sokolowski,University of Windsor; with Dr.Mohamed Elbestawi, Miky Dumitrescu,Dr. Eu-Gene Ng, McMaster University

• Fine-Celled Foam Structures forAutomotive TPO Components – ProjectLeader: Dr. Chul Park, University ofToronto; with Dr. Andrew Hrymak, Dr.Michael Thompson, McMasterUniversity

• Chemically Enhanced Formability ofAutomotive Aluminum Alloys – ProjectLeader: Dr. David Wilkinson,McMaster University; with Dr. DmitriV. Malakhov, McMaster University

• Hydroforming of Advanced HighStrength Steels – Project Leader: Dr.Michael Worswick, University ofWaterloo; with Dr. David Wilkinson, Dr.Mukesh Jain, McMaster University

• New Generation Steels II – ProjectLeader: Dr. Stephen Yue, McGillUniversity; with Dr. David Embury, Dr.J. McDermid, McMaster University

• High Efficiency Machining Processes –

Project Leader: Dr. MohamedElbestawi, McMaster University; withDr. Philip Koshy, Dr. Stephen Veldhuis,McMaster University

• Wrought Magnesium for Automobiles –Project Leader: Dr. Marek Niewczas,McMaster University; with researchersfrom Queen’s University and theUniversity of Alberta AUTO21 is a national research initiative

supported by the Government of Canadathrough the Networks of Centres ofExcellence Directorate and more than 110industry, government and institutionalpartners. It’s mandate is focus Canadianresearch expertise on improving andenhancing the competitiveness of theCanadian automotive industry. TheNetwork, with an annual budget of $12 million, currently supports over 230 top researchers working at more than37 academic institutions, governmentresearch facilities and private sectorresearch labs across Canada and around the world.

In June, the AUTO21 Network ofCentres of Excellence, based at theUniversity of Windsor, announced $9.8

million in federal government funding for41 auto-related research projects. The proj-ects will be supported by an additional$14.7 million from industry and otherpublic sector partners, such as vehiclemanufacturers, automotive suppliers andboth provincial and federal governmentaldepartments and agencies.

Auto21 projects comprise six themes ofstudy: health, safety and injury prevention;societal issues and the future automobile;materials and manufacturing; designprocesses; power trains, fuels and emis-sions; and intelligent systems and sensors.McMaster researchers are in the forefrontof much of the research pertaining to mate-rials and manufacturing. (Please note, onlyMcMaster researchers are named. Mostprojects involved a number of researchersfrom partner universities.) • Processing Technologies of Light

Materials Cast Components – Project

Investment benefits auto industry’s future


Engineering news

The Advanced Design & Manufactur-ing Institute (ADMI), founded in2001, provides a variety of courses

specifically designed for professionalengineers working in industry. Individualswork at their own pace toward a Master ofEngineering in Design and Manufacturing.

The part-time program focuses on key engineering issues such as engi-neering design, manufacturing processesand business management. There are norequired courses and participants cancreate a customized M.Eng. program thatis suited to their personal and businessneeds. The intent is to provide engineerswith the skills they need in order tobecome leaders in today’s demanding,complex business world.

McMaster University is a foundingpartner of the ADMI program, along withthe University of Toronto, the University

Program targets engineers in industryof Waterloo, the University of WesternOntario and Ontario Centres of ExcellenceInc. through Materials & ManufacturingOntario (MMO). In 2004, the programwon the Yves Landry FoundationTechnological Education Award for“Manufacturing Technology Program –University Level”.

Participants apply for admission to anyone of the partner universities. However,at any time in the program, they can takecourses from the other participating univer-sities. This means they have the benefit oftaking a course from a professor who is aleading expert in the field.

The courses are based on the modularformat, which makes for easy scheduling,and they are interactive.

The small class size, the flexibility inselecting courses and the fact that partici-pants progress at their own speed, all help

make this program very popular. Executive Director David Heaslip

reports that nearly 200 engineers have beenadmitted to the program since its incep-tion, and over 30 have graduated. “A keybenefit to engineering alumni, McMasterincluded, that the program provides themwith technical and business managementskills that may be important to their careerdevelopment and to business/engineeringopportunities.” Many participants havecommented on its relevance to theirindustry situation and on the significantdirect benefits they and their company havereceived from their participation in ADMI,he adds.

McMaster engineering grads areencouraged to visit the website at www.admicanada.com or [email protected].

A message from the Associate Dean (Research & External Relations)


Dofasco Donation Supports New Centre

At its annual general meeting,Dofasco announced a $1 millioncommunity-building gift to McMaster

University to establish Canada’s firstCentre for Engineering and Public Policy.

The one-of-a-kind Centre is part of theFaculty of Engineering’s new School forEngineering Practice, and will focus on thestudy of technology’s impact on societyand how public policy affects engineeringsolutions. Hamilton-based Dofasco is afounding partner in the School.

Mo Elbestawi, dean, Faculty ofEngineering, notes that engineers needmore than extensive technical skills. Theyalso need an enhanced understanding ofthe public policy process and how thatprocess affects technological, social andecological systems.

Dofasco and the Faculty of Engineeringat McMaster University have a long-standing partnership. In 1999, the steelcompany committed $2 million to create

two permanently endowed research chairsin Process Metallurgy and ProcessAutomation and Information Technology.Dofasco has also established a Student

Bursary Fund, invested in the McMasterSteel Research Centre, and been an activeparticipant in the university’s internshipprogram.

From left to right: Mo Elbestawi, Don Pether and Peter George.

Welcome to this, the first Message ofthe Associate Dean (Research andExternal Relations). I am glad youdecided to check it out.

It is the mandate of my Office to coor-dinate research initiatives, both within theFaculty, and in partnerships with otherFaculties at McMaster and at otheruniversities. It is largely the success ofsuch partnerships that has enabled overthe past few years unprecedented growthin the number of faculty, graduatestudents, and external research funding.Large, multi-disciplinary initiatives arecrucial to the development of new tech-nologies and innovations, and willcontinue to enhance McMaster’s researchcapabilities and reputation. I am con-vinced that the research activities withinthe Faculty of Engineering played a keyrole in the designation of McMasterUniversity as Research University of theYear for 2004 and the most recent listing ofMcMaster as one of the top 100 universi-ties in the world.

At the present time, we are engaged inthree significant initiatives, all of which

will have a substantial impact onthe research enterprise:• The School for Biomedical

Engineering, a unique andequal partnership between theFaculties of Engineering andHealth Sciences and comprisedof several industry-supportedresearch laboratories;

• The McMaster Micro &Nanosystems Institute, whichwill serve to complete the manufacturingcycle from Materials (represented by theBrockhouse Institute for Materials andResearch) to Devices (Centre forElectrophotonic Materials and Devices)to Functional Systems, and

• The revised and expanded McMasterInstitute for Energy Studies, which willact as the focal point of our activities infuel cell technology, solar energyresearch, wind energy, and nuclearengineering. It will also continue toaddress the economic and socialaspects of energy generation, use, andsustainability.In addition, the newly established

School for Engineering Practicewill provide opportunities forpractitioners in industry toupgrade their skills in the areasof Engineering Design, Entrepre-neurship and Innovation, andPublic Policy.

September is also the time tofully engage in the developmentof proposals for funding of newinfrastructure and research

personnel. New competitions have beenannounced by the Canada Foundation forInnovation (CFI), the Ontario ResearchFund (ORF), and the Natural Sciencesand Engineering Research Council(NSERC). We are building on our newcollaborations, targeting in particular theareas of biomedical engineering, micro-and nanosystems, energy systems, andenvironmental engineering.

These important fields of knowledgefor the future are among McMaster’sresearch priorities and we are committedto being at the forefront in the develop-ment of new products and systems thatwill benefit society.

Dr. Peter Mascher


Heart monitors, artificial lungs,tissue engineering biosensors andtelemedicine – these are a few

examples of research conducted bybiomedical engineers. Research in the fieldof biomedicine has been ongoing atMcMaster for a number of years. Untilnow, it has been carried out predominantlyby individual faculty members workingalone or in collaboration.

The new McMaster School of Bio-medical Engineering (MSBME) representsa tremendous opportunity for prospectivegraduate students because it resides equallywithin the world-class Faculty of HealthSciences and the leading-edge Faculty ofEngineering.

This unique merger has created an areaof study that will develop a new genera-tion of biomedical engineers who are fluentin the language of both engineering andmedicine. The School’s areas of study

McMaster School of BiomedicalEngineering – The Next Evolution

Dr. John Brash Dr. Anthony Adili

include in biomaterials/tissue engineering,biomedical imaging, biomedical tech-nology and bioprocessing. The mandate isto create research and educationalprograms that will be recognized interna-tionally for their excellence.

The inaugural Director of the School isDr. John L. Brash. He was appointed for athree-year term, starting July 1, 2005.

Dr. Brash joined McMaster as an asso-

ciate professor in the Departments ofChemical Engineering and Pathology &Molecular Medicine in 1972. He served asthe chair of the Department of ChemicalEngineering from 1997 to 2000. His inter-ests include the development of novel bio-materials for use in the construction ofmedical devices, and the study of the inter-actions of proteins and cells from blood andother biological fluids with these materials.

Dr. Brash’s work is truly interdiscipli-nary, linking chemical engineering, mate-rials science and the life sciences. One ofthe top scientists in his field, Dr. Brash hasbeen recognized internationally withnumerous awards; he holds an honorarydoctorate from the Université Paris XIII(1996). He is a University Professor ofMcMaster and a Fellow of the RoyalSociety of Canada.

Dr. Anthony Adili has accepted theappointment as Associate Director for theSchool, effective July 1st, 2005. His is anassistant professor at McMaster’s Facultyof Health Sciences in the OrthopaedicDivision of the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Adili graduated from McMaster’sElectrical Engineering & Managementprogram in 1989, and obtained an M.D.from the McMaster Health Sciences Centrein 1997. An orthopaedic surgeon, hespecializes in lower extremity disease ofthe musculoskeletal system. He is currentlyHead of Orthopaedics and also Director ofOrthopaedic Programs at the Centre ofMinimal Access Surgery, St. Joseph’sHealthcare, in Hamilton.

Dr. Adili is currently working in a jointventure in the area of bio-mechanicsbetween the Faculty of Health Sciencesand the Department of MechanicalEngineering. He is also involved in severalclinical trials related to knee and hip jointreconstruction.

With the recent appointment of Drs.Brash and Adili, the McMaster School ofBiomedical Engineering is poised to have atransformative impact on the University,the community and the country. Researchat the MSBME will push the boundaries ofdiscovery and will serve to improve thelives of future generations.

Retirees: Congratulations and BestWishes from the Faculty of Engineering

From left to right: Dr. Brian Ives, Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering, Dr. DavidWeaver (Mechanical Engineering), Mrs. Lola Brooks (Technical Coordinator – Electrical andComputer Engineering), Dr. Robert Drysdale (Civil Engineering) and Dr. Jen-Shinh Chang(Engineering Physics)

attendance to mention here. Some from themore distant past include Aye Myint,Sylvester Osamasali, Emmanuel Moralaand Leo Seto and others who made aspecial effort to travel to the event. Recent

graduates who were present include NoelHarrison and Martin Wicek. Of course,there were many present who have main-tained close association since graduating.Glen Harvel, former Ph.D. student,Adjunct Professor in Engineering Physicsand a Manager at AECL, and Dave Novog,former Ph. D. student and a TechnicalManager at Nuclear Safety Solutions, aretwo who fall into that category. MarcosAra, Eng. Phys. ‘01 and a recent student ofDr. Chang’s, gave a warm and heart-feltthank you on behalf of all his students,both past and present.

Dr. Chang has broad interests outside ofacademia, including archaeology andhistory. When he really does retire fromacademia, it is his dream to ‘dig’ into thosetopics at a leisurely pace. Those who knowhim well doubt the “leisurely” bit. For now,it is business as usual on the research front. As Department Chair Paul Jessop noted,in recent years Dr. Chang’s research publi-cation rate is the top in the Department bya fair margin. One can only imagine whatwill happen next.


Canadaresearch chairawarded

On July 8th, 2005, friends,colleagues and former students ofengineering physics professor Dr.

Jen-Shih Chang gathered at the UniversityClub to celebrate his shifting of gears -from top gear to over-drive. Dr. Chang isnot the retiring type but, after 26 years inthe Department of Engineering Physicsand some 36 years of teaching, that is whathe did officially. In reality, he became afull-time researcher. Dr. Chang has taughtand conducted research in environmentaland energy and associated areas. He is awell-known international figure, especiallyin Japan, where his roots lie and where hehas extensive industrial and academicconnections. His students and colleaguesknow him as an involved, dynamic,cheerful and superb projects manager.Make that projects manager, because hisresearch life is always in full swing withnever a dull moment.

At the July 8th event, there were far toomany former students and associates in

Dr. Jen-Shih Chang retires… almost!

Jen-Shih Chang

McMaster’s fifty-eighth CanadaResearch Chair is held by QiyinFang. Fang, who is currently at

Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in California,will join McMaster in September 2005. AsCanada Research Chair in Biophotonics,Fang will work on photonics-based tech-nologies for medical applications. Hisresearch will lead to real-time minimally-invasive techniques for the diagnosis andtreatment of various diseases includingvulnerable artery plaques and invasivebrain cancers.

Biophotonics is a fast growing interdis-ciplinary field that concentrates onapplying physical, chemical and engi-neering advances to biological and medicalchallenges. The federally-funded CRCprogram, launched in 2000, is designed to help Canadian universities attract andretain top researchers from around the world.

New MMRI director appointedEffective July 1st, Dr. David Wilkinson

assumed the position of Director of theMcMaster Manufacturing ResearchInstitute (MMRI). In making theannouncement, Mo Elbestawi, dean of theFaculty of Engineering, noted thatWilkinson has an outstanding reputationboth as a scholar and an educator whichwill greatly assist in moving the MMRIto new levels of performance andachievements.

Wilkinson, a professor in theDepartment of Materials Science andEngineering, obtained a B.A.Sc. fromToronto and his PhD. from Cambridge(U.K.). He is currently director of theMcMaster Powder Processing Facilityand of the University’s Centre forAutomotive Materials.

His research interests include pro-cessing and properties of structural mate-rials, including metallic alloys, ceramics,ceramic matrix composites, metal matrix

composites, functionally gradient mate-rials and biomaterials. The researchfocuses on the development and controlof microstructural complexity, andmodels for inhomogeneous flow andfracture processes.

Dr. David Wilkinson


The 1st Canadian Conference onEffective Design of Structures:Transferring Research into Practice

(CCEDS-1), was held at McMasterUniversity in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada onJuly 10 to 13, 2005. Hosted by the McMasterUniversity Centre for Effective Design ofStructures (CEDS), the conference provideda Canadian and International forum for infor-mation exchange among delegates from the

Dr. John Medcof, a professorof Organizational Behaviourin the DeGroote School of

Business, was appointed Director ofthe Engineering and ManagementProgram, effective May 2005. Dr.Medcof, who is also Associate Deanof the School of Business, will servefor a 3-year term.

“I have been a great admirer of theEngineering and Management Program formany years and am very happy that I willnow be able to get directly involved,” Dr.Medcof said on his appointment.

Having served previously on theOperating Committee of the Engineeringand Management Program, he is veryknowledgeable about the program and anenthusiastic supporter.

“The program is a jewel in the crown ofMcMaster. It has the potential to grow andto make even greater contributions toeducation and to the economic prosperity

New director appointed forEngineering & Management

of society at large. I lookforward to working with thestudents, McMaster faculty andstaff, and the business commu-nity to realize that potential.”

Dr. Medcof, who received hisPh.D. in organizational behav-iour from the University ofToronto, is a member ofnumerous professional bodies

including the Academy of Management,the Administrative Sciences Association ofCanada, the British Academy ofManagement, the Institute for ManagementSciences and the Society for ExperimentalSocial Psychology.

Dr. Medcof’s current research interestis in the management of technology, andhe is often consulted on such subjects ascommunications, self-management, theuse of information technology in theworkplace, and organizational power andpolitics.

Major researchfacility attractedto research park

First Canadian conference on effectivedesign of structures

McMaster has a tenant for its new Innovation Park. In July, CANMETMaterials Technology Laboratory(CANMET-MTL) announced it willbuild a $60-million facility on the WestHamilton site, to house its 100 scientistsand support workers. The building isexpected to be completed in three years.

CANMET-MTL is a research centrededicated to metals and materials fabri-cation, processing and evaluation. It willbe the first major federal lab to locate insouthern Ontario.

The benefits of having the companyas part of the Innovation Park include:helping to make Hamilton a centre formaterials research, and attracting othermetals industries including the steel andautomotive sector to the Park

McMaster University, which purchasedland at the corner of Longwood Road andAberdeen Avenue for approximately $13million, is developing a research park onthe property. The project is a partnershipwith the City of Hamilton, which haspledged $5 million to build a biotech-nology center. The Innovative Park willinclude private, university and govern-ment laboratories and workshops that areexpected to bring new technologies andproducts to market. It is scheduled toopen in 2007.

design profession, the construction industry,research organizations, and academia.

CEEDS offers an opportunity for partic-ipants to disseminate research findings inthe evolving and emerging area of effectivedesign of structures. A wide range of topicsare possible, aimed at improving quality ofthe structure, economic viability, durability,sustainability, maintenance and con-structability. In future, the conference willbe held every two years.

The theme of this year’s conference was“Transferring Research into Practice”,focusing on the four major research thrustsof the Centre: Analysis, Investigation andRemediation of Structures, MasonryMaterials and Building Envelope, SeismicDesign and Retrofit of Structures, andNew and Under-Utilized Materials.Authors were encouraged to address issuesrelated to the integration of new knowledgeinto practical civil engineering applications.

Dr. Samir E. Chidiac was the Chair of

CCEDS-1. During the two-and-a-half dayperiod, 60 papers were presented, andworkshops held in the areas of BuildingEnvelope, Design of Masonry Structures,and NBCC Revised Seismic Require-ments. Keynote lectures were presented byDrs. Dan Abrams, Michel Bruneau, RobertDrysdale, Murat Saatcioglu, and SaeedMirza covering topics in Masonry,Earthquake Engineering and Infrastruc-ture. In total, one hundred and twenty dele-gates participated.

Dr. Chidiac notes that many peoplecontributed to the success of the confer-ence, including the delegates, keynotelecturers, technical and international advi-sory committees, conference sponsors,CEDS partners, and the many people whoworked behind the scenes. He thanks themall, saying that the dedicated assistance andenthusiasm of the Organizing Committeeis especially appreciated.

CCEDS-2 will be held in 2007.

Dr. John Medcof

New chair for MaterialsScience & Engineering

Mechanics (CANCAM), and theCSME, serving as president ofCSME from 1997-98. He is therecipient of the 2002 DowningAward for Outstanding Service toCSME.

Dr. Weaver also gave of histime to the University, serving asAssistant Dean for Professional

Affairs from 1982-84, and AssociateDean for External Relations, 1990-91. Hehas also served on various campaign,tenure, and Senate committees and, from1996-97, chaired the Senate Committeeon Appointments. He is also a member ofthe Editorial Committee for theMacEngineer.

Samir Ziada, who spoke at the retire-ment party, noted that Professor Weaver“has given so much of his time, effort,dedication and advice (to the Department).All members of the Department are verygrateful for his contribution.”

During his years at McMaster, hetaught more than 10 differentcourses and twice received theMcMaster Students Union Awardfor Teaching Excellence (1979,1998). He is widely published therecipient of many awards andhonours: the Society of AutomotiveEngineers Award for OutstandingEngineering Educators, the “EngineeringApplications of Mechanics Medal” at the10th Engineering Applications ofMechanics Symposium in 1990. He is aFellow in the American Society ofMechanical Engineers (ASME), theCanadian Society of Mechanical Engineers(CSME) and in the Engineering Instituteof Canada (EIC).

Over the years he has been active onnumerous committees and in many organ-ization including Natural Sciences andEngineering Research Council (NSERC),the Canadian Congress of Applied


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Associate professor Ken Coley,Department of Materials Science andEngineering, has been appointed the newChair of the Department, effective July2005. He will serve for a 5-year term.

Dr. Coley came to McMaster in 1996from the University of Strathclyde inScotland. There he was a professor andthe British Steel Lecturer in ProcessMetallurgy in the Department ofMetallurgy and Engineering Materials.He is a member of the MetallurgicalSociety of C.I.M., serving as its presidentin 2004-2005. He is also a member ofThe Institute of Materials and theAmerican Iron & Steel Institute (AIST),and a Registered Chartered Engineer(C.Eng.).

His research interests include thekinetics and thermodynamics of high-temperature reactions in materialsprocessing and service. His research hasreceived funding from NSERC, theMcMaster Steel Research Centre, the

Centre for Chemical Process Metallurgyand AIST, in addition to corporate spon-sors. His work has been published in avariety of journals and presented atconferences around the world.

Ken Coley

In June, Dr. Dave Weaver retired fromthe Department of MechanicalEngineering. Dr. Weaver has been a

supportive member of the Departmentsince coming to Mac in 1971, serving twoterms as Chair (1984-90, 2000-03).

Dr. Weaver received both his B.Sc. (1964)and M.Sc. (1966) from the University ofToronto, and his Ph.D. from the Universityof Waterloo in 1969. He came to McMasterfrom the University of Waterloo, where heworked as research assistant professor in theDepartment of Civil Engineering. While atMcMaster, his research has lead to theincrease of knowledge and understanding inthe area of flow-induced vibrations and theireffect on structures.

Long-time Mech. Eng. professor retires

Dr. Dave Weaver

Alumnus profiled inForbes magazineEngineering alumnusStephen Elop was thesubject of a recentForbes Magazine pro-file. The profile wasprompted by theannouncement of thepending merger ofMacromedia, wherehis is CEO, andAdobe Systems. The $3.4 billion merger is expected to becompleted in the fall of 2005, at which timeElop will hold one of the two president’spositions. The new firm will be known asAdobe, and Elop will be responsible forthe sales force.

Macromedia is known for Dreamweaverand Flash. Elop, 41, has been with thecompany since 1998, and became CEO in 2004.

Stephen Elop


Ottawa Alumni EventThursday, September 15, 2005Guest Speaker: Raymond Moriyama

Ottawa War MuseumBarney Danson Auditorium1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, Ontario

5:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails6:30 p.m. Presentation followed by Museum tour

Cost: $15/personCash BarComplimentary Wine

Register onlinewww.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni/ottawa.htm

Thursday, Sept 15, 2005

Wednesday, Sept 28, 2005

Social Connection Night for all Engineering StudentsMcMaster University Student CentreCIBC Hall, 3rd Floor7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Light snacks will be provided.

If you would like to be a mentor please contact CarmVespi at [email protected] or 905-9140 ext. 24906WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Register onlinewww.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni/socialconnection.htm

Thursday, Oct 6, 2005

3rd Annual Wine Tasting EventPeninsula Ridge Estate WineryBeamsville

A private tour of the winemakingfacility, underground cellar andvineyard discussion along with asampling of three estate wines.

Tour at 6:00 p.mDinner at 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $45 per person ~ Complimentary wine

Register by September 30, 2005

Register onlinewww.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni/winetasting.htm

Homecoming 2005Saturday, October 1, 2005Calling all Redsuits (1987 to2005) Tailgate Party

McMaster vs. Queens at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Start 2:00 p.m.Cost is $20 per person including BBQ Lunch. Cash Bar

We need your help to track down as many Redsuits aspossible. If you have any contact lists or informationregarding the Redsuits please pass it along to Carm [email protected] or [email protected]

If you were a Redsuit mark your calendars and pass on thenews for a reunion in your honour during HomecomingWeekend.

Register onlinewww.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni/homecoming.htm

Saturday, Oct 1, 2005

Don’t miss these upco


Software Engineering & GameDesign Program Launch

Tuesday, October 11, 2005Art Gallery of Hamilton.11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Guest speaker – new media artistStacey Spiegel, the president and CEOof Toronto based Immersion Studios

Luncheon & keynote address. Stacey will be speaking on thecreation of an on-line interactive virtual country for the CanadaPavilion at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan. The Expo 2005 projectresulted in Virtual Canada, a prototype cyber world based on areal country, featuring 17 cities and natural landscapes. Pleaseextend this invitation to friends and colleagues!

Cost: $35/person, $20/studentR.S.V.P. for luncheon by September 15th to Terry Milson at [email protected]

Tuesday, Oct 11, 2005

Sunday Oct 16 to Wednesday Oct 19, 2005

Chemical Engineering ConferenceMark your calendars for the 35th Canadian ChemicalEngineering Conference to be held at the Metro TorontoConvention Centre in downtown Toronto. We plan to hold aMac alumni reunion for chemical engineering grads duringthis event. Please check the Alumni website for details.

Wednesday Jan 25, 2006

Salsa NightFaculty Club, Great HallInstructors: Carlos & Laura Escalante

6:00 – 7:00 p.m. light snacks7:00 – 8:00 p.m. dance instruction

Cost: to be determined ~ Cash barRegister by January 18, 2006

Register onlinewww.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni/salsa.htm

Scotch Tasting EventTasting and Dinner!Wednesday, November 30, 2005Scottish Rite of Hamilton, Round Room4 Queen St. S., Hamilton, Ontario

5:30 Cash Bar ~ 6:15 p.m. Presentation & DinnerCost: $40 per person

Register by November 23, 2005

Register onlinewww.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni/scotchtasting.htm

Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005

Alumni events help keep the Mac spirit alive.

Many Engineering Alumni take the

opportunity to reconnect with faculty and

colleagues during the year. Check out the

website often, to learn about up-coming

events: www.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni

oming Alumni Events!

Director appointed to new school for engineering practice


In June, Dr. Andrew Hrymak retired asDirector of the McMaster Manu-facturing Research Institute (MMRI).

Under his four-year leadership, the facilityhas grown in size and expanded itsprograms. In 2005 the Institute reached agraduate student enrollment of 119, alongwith a compliment of 9 Post Docs, 9researchers and 29 internship students.They produced more than 120 refereedjournal publications and generated $2.6Mof funded research.

Founded in 2001, MMRI is an interdis-ciplinary manufacturing research group,operating initially from three labs in theJohn Hodgins Engineering building.Strength in core research areas that existedin the Faculty of Engineering in advancedmachining, polymer processing, robotics,and metal forming, attracted foundationand government funding and industrialpartnerships. In 2002, the Instituteexpanded off campus to the ComputerIntegrated Manufacturing (CIM) facility inAncaster, Ontario. Today, MMRI is one of the largest university manufacturingresearch institutes in Canada.

Growth in faculty has led to the devel-opment of an interdisciplinary manufac-turing engineering undergraduate programthat will allow students to gain industrialexperience and have the opportunity to doa one-year Master of Engineering degree inmanufacturing. As well, MMRI faculty areactively involved in initiatives such asAUTO21 (The Automobile of the 21stCentury), a national research initiative

supported by the Government of Canadathrough the Networks of Centres ofExcellence Directorate and more than 120industry, government and institutionalpartners.

As Dr. Hrymak noted in a recent issue ofthe MMRI Newsletter, the goal has alwaysbeen to make the MMRI relevant on theshop floor. He commented that this is morecritical today than when the Institute wasfounded. “The industrial landscape haschanged dramatically over the last fiveyears, as competitive pressures hit themanufacturing sector: off-shore sourcing,

downsizing of technical and researchgroups, and out-sourcing of componentsand services. Our industrial partner base ischanging and so we too have to change.”

The MMRI will continue to exploreopportunities to address these challenges,while maintaining international recogni-tion as the leading manufacturing researchcenter in Canada.

A professor in the Department ofChemical Engineering, Dr. Hrymak iscurrently Chair of the Department andDirector of the School for EngineeringPractice.

MMRI director retired in June

MMRI former director Andy Hrymak looks through a single screw extruder in one of the MMRIlabs in the John Hodgins Engineering Building.

Andrew Hrymak has been appointed asthe first director of the University’s newSchool for Engineering Practice. TheSchool was created by the Faculty ofEngineering in response to the growingneed for engineers who could manageincreasingly complex issues that requirein-depth knowledge of design, innovation,entrepreneurship and the impact of tech-nology on society.

It includes three centres: the XeroxCentre for Engineering Entrepreneurship& Innovation, the Centre for Engineeringand Public Policy (in partnership with

Dofasco), and the Centre for EngineeringDesign (in partnership with GeneralMotors of Canada).

“This is a new concept in engineeringeducation,” Hrymak says. “The Schoolfocuses on providing engineering profes-sionals with the necessary mix of tech-nical and leadership skills at the graduatelevel to recognize and develop new tech-nologies, and to take those new technolo-gies to market in a safe, efficient andenvironmentally sound manner.”

Hrymak, who joined the Faculty in1985, has worked on research projects

with many companies including Xerox,Dofasco, Suncor and Imperial Oil. He is aprofessor of chemical engineering and iscurrently chair of the department. He isalso associate director of the University’sCentre for Advanced Polymer Processingand Design (CAPPA-D).

Hrymak received his B. Eng. atMcMaster University and Ph.D. atCarnegie Mellon University. His researchinterests include polymer processing,computational fluid dynamics, processsimulation and optimization, and finiteelement methods.


Alumni profiles

From engineering to investment mayseem like a big leap. However, whenelectrical engineering grad Mark

Janoska (B.Eng. 1989, Ph.D. 1995) madethe leap, it was simply a natural progres-sion in a fascinating career.

Since leaving McMaster, Dr. Janoskahas worked at Newbridge Networks andWestinghouse Canada. He was a co-founder of Extreme Packet Devices, asemiconductor firm specializing in thetelecommunications sector, where heserved as Chief Technology Officer. It washere that he developed a track-record ofchampioning leading-edge technologies,with the result that the company attractedthe attention of PMC-Sierra. When itbought the firm, Janoska remained for aperiod of time as [a Principal Engineer].

In 2001, just as he was casting about for the next challenge, he was approached by the venture capital managing companyVenGrowth Capital Partners (www.vengrowth.com). “After much thought, Idecided that this would be a good way toparticipate in the technology startup area ina way that I had not considered,” he says.“It would also allow me to bring my expe-rience to others, as well as explore anumber of technology areas.”

With over $1.2 billion in assets undermanagement, Toronto-based VenGrowthhas a long history of helping small andmedium-sized Canadian entrepreneursbuild successful businesses. Founded in1982, the company invests in predomi-nantly later-stage business opportunities inthe technology and life sciences sectors, aswell as the more traditional industries. Inadditional to capital, VenGrowth contri-butes operational and strategic guidance toassist with the growth of the enterprise, toa point where it is ready to be acquired bylarger company or to go public on a stockexchange.

Janoska is a General Partner withVenGrowth Private Equity Partners. Hisresponsibilities include searching for tech-nology companies that require financingand performing technical and market due

diligence. He also has to keep current withtrends in communications technology –especially semiconductors. Currently hesits on the Board of Directors of six early-to mid-stage technology companies in theOttawa area.

Janoska says he still benefits from theengineering-related skills he learned atMcMaster. “I use these skills to performdue diligence on companies that I amlooking to invest in, as well as to guidetechnology companies in which I havealready invested, including productcon-cept, product design and operationalissues.”

Janoska, who has had numerous articles

published in academic and trade journals,and currently [holds a number of patents inthe area of communications], jokes that hehas far too many memories of his time atMac to relate; some, he claims, may not befit to print! “My best memories are withmy roommate of 3 years, Rob. We continueto be very close friends and I am the god-father to his daughter Kim.”

When not helping to build successfultechnology companies within the Ottawaarea, Janoska enjoys flying, wildernesscanoe travel and hiking. “Basically myfuture plans include having more fun thanshould be allowed to one person in a singlelifetime.”

Mark Janoska – from engineering to investment

When not helping to build successful technology companies within the Ottawa area, Mark enjoysflying, wilderness canoe travel and hiking.


theoretical chemistry but engineeringresearch soon justified one of fournetworked satellite job entry facilitieslocated adjacent to the main lobby of theEngineering Building. Other remote jobsubmission stations were in Arts III,Chedoke hospital and the Canada Centrefor Inland Waters in Burlington.

Then, as now, McMaster was seldom outof the pages of the local HamiltonSpectator and the nationally acclaimedcomputing facilities were a frequent topicof interest. A significant part of Gerry’stime seems to have been in providinglayman-level copy for local news reporters.

In the 70s the need to replace the agingCDC resulted in much discussion betweenIPACS and the user community. Gerry wason most of these committees and wasnotable for the fact that although an expertin the area he was always willing to listento the ideas and opinions of others. Hesubscribed to the qualified maxim “thecustomer is often not wrong”. The role ofcomputing in education grew along withthe increase in decentralization of hard-ware as McMaster adapted first to anetwork of VAX machines with many userterminals to the personal computer era.

The teaching of Computer Science grewin importance until, when Mathematics andApplied Mathematics were amalgamatedin 1980, Gerry urged recognition of the

importance of the new science byrequesting that his title be changed toProfessor of Mathematical Sciences(Computer Science). The trend continuedwith the creation of a Department ofComputer Science and Systems in 1985and after a well-deserved sabbatical Gerrybecame Chair of the new Department fortwo 3-year terms.

After his retirement in 1993, hecontinued to provide yeoman service onthe Council of McMaster UniversityRetirees Association and served as Chairfor two years.

Gerry was a remarkable fellow and iswell summed up in a quote from a formerPresident, “His integrity, forthrightness andkeen sense of humour… made it a real joyto have been associated with him.”– senti-ments that are shared by those who workedwith him.

Gerald Keech (1928-2005)A history of computing at McMaster

Despite the summer slow-down ofcampus activity, there were a goodnumber of McMaster people

among the many mourners assembled atWhite Chapel Memorial Gardens to paytheir last respects to Dr. Gerry Keech onJune 6, 2005. Given the impact that he hadon computing at McMaster it is appropriateto review some of the highlights of his long career.

Gerry graduated from Toronto inEngineering Physics and got his Ph.D. atMcMaster in Theoretical Nuclear Physicsin 1956. He worked for AECL (ChalkRiver) until 1960 when he was recruitedby President Harry Thode to join thegrowing Faculty of Engineering.

However, the Dept. of MechanicalEngineering lost him only 2 years laterwhen, in recognition of the growing impor-tance of computers, he was made Directorof the new Department of ComputerServices, later Information Processing &Academic Computer Services (IPACS)where he served for 22 years.

The IBM 7040 hardware in 1963 wasprimarily for administration, but the vitalneed for computer power for academicresearch was recognized. Gerry’s urgingresulted in $2M for a CDC6400 and oper-ating funds to cover maintenance and staffthat grew rapidly from 30 to 70. Installedin 1968, one of the heaviest uses was for

Gerry Keech

Brad Nicholas – one very BIG job

“Iam sure this is the largest parkinggarage I will ever be involvedwith in my career!” says Bradley

Nicholas (Civil ’2000), now a ProjectManager at Tishman ConstructionCorporation.

Nicholas’ employment at Tishmanoccurred after he received The Ronald E.Materick Scholarship, the scholarshipawarded annually to civil engineeringstudents who have attained notableacademic standing. Ron Materick was kindenough to introduce him to JamesScarpace, then Senior Vice President ofTishman’s Washington, DC office.

Nicholas was hired by Scarpace as aProject Engineer and spent five years inWashington.

Tishman has been selected as theExecutive Construction Manager to overseethe largest commercial construction devel-opment in progress in the U.S.: the $5-billion Project CityCenter in the heart ofLas Vegas. Visualized as an urban metrop-olis, Project CityCenter will include 22towers, a 4,000-room hotel and a casino.However, it is the non-gaming attractionsthat make the complex truly unique. With500-room boutique hotels, 1,650 high-riseresidential units, and 550,000 square feet of

entertainment, shopping and dining space,the facility will gradually change the char-acter of Las Vegas – from “adult play-ground” to a sophisticated, multi-functionalmega-structure.

“I was asked to go and couldn’t pass upthe opportunity,” Nicholas says. “Thisproject is attracting the best in the business.The caliber of the consultants/ designersinvolved is extraordinary. I am currentlymanaging a $2.1M SF/5200 car parkinggarage, the first piece of this development”.

The project started in June 2005 in thefield and is expected to have the first phasecompleted by December 2009.

Making a Difference in Guatemala


Engineering students news

Students hard at work and having fun.

The mandate of McMaster’s Engi-neering and Society program is to explorethe human side of engineering. A group ofEngineering and Society students havegone one step further. By creating theSociety’s Challenge, they raised enoughmoney to travel to Guatemala to work,teach, build relationships… and make adifference.

The students spent two years in prepa-ration for the one-month trip, includingrunning some fundraising events whichraised $30,000. In addition to paying fortravel expenses, the money was used toput windows in a high school and to payfor shipping donated computers, class-room furniture and supplies.

The group of eleven students left inearly May to spend the month betweenthree locations around Guatemala City. AtEl Matazanos, Society’s Challenge

painted a mural, taught the students a playin English, and assisted instructors byteaching math, science and English. In anelementary school at Milvia Pinto dePerez, Society’s Challenge refurbishedthe outdoor playground by removingdebris, planting a garden and building asandbox complete with benches. At aboys’ orphanage in Lo de Coy, theMcMaster students taught English andtold the children about Canada.

Despite the slow-moving Guatemalan

Customs and having to learn to commu-nicate in a foreign language, all partici-pants say the project was a great successand a life-changing experience. “This wasan experience I’ll never forget,” saysVanessa Kemp.

“The children were so happy that wehad come to Guatemala to work withthem.” Colleague Natalie Rouskov says,“The people in Guatemala left a lastingimpression on me. They were willing togive us everything they had so that wecould help more people. They were sowarm and caring.”

The group kept an online journal of theiractivities at www.societyschallenge.com.

The Engineering & Society class of2007 is currently talking about developingtheir own project, and are looking forwardto making a difference in the lives of thoseless fortunate.

L.E.A.P. jumps into action The inaugural term of a new engi-

neering enrichment camp generatedoverwhelming interest and response.

The Learning Enrichment AdvancementProgram (L.E.A.P.), which ran from July 3to 29, definitely proved its appeal with areaGrade 10, 11 and 12 students.

“The response was fantastic,” says CarmVespi, Manager, Alumni Relations, Engi-neering Alumni Office. “There were 16enrolled – which is super for a newprogram in its first year.”

During the four-week camp, studentsworked on one of two projects. Studentstaking the design theme explored theconcepts behind design, learned how torepresent their ideas through ComputerAided Design (CAD) and, after successfullydesigning and testing their prototypes, theymade the final product. Students in therobotics theme were challenged to create anautonomous robot equipped with a micro-processor that would analyze data collectedfrom the robot’s ultrasonic and laser sensors.

The camps offer challenges as well aslots of fun, along with an opportunity towin a McMaster entrance scholarship.

“It was great to see the students’ enthu-siasm and to watch their projects take

shape. The program will definitely be runagain next summer,” Vespi says.

For more information about L.E.A.P., goto www.leap.mcmaster.ca or call 905-525-9140, ext. 24906.


Congratulations to the solar car team – twice!In July, McMaster’s solar car known as

Phoenix made the cut and qualified forthis year’s North American Solar CarChallenge. It was an exciting and well-deserved victory for the solar car teamwhose two previous entries failed toqualify. Not only that, but the car avoidedany major problems along the route andmade it to the finish line.

The $300,000 Phoenix joined 19 otherqualifiers from universities across Canadaand the United States in the 4,000 km race

from Austin, Texas to Calgary, Alberta. Ateam of 14 accompanied the car for the10-day event. Covered in over 400 solarpanels and weighing 215 kg, the solar carbraved downpours and high winds,managing to cross the finish line in the 17th position. Electrical problems,however, meant that Phoenix could attaina top speed of only 60 kilometers per hour.

Still, this success is well-deserved for ateam which spent the last six years puttingMcMaster on the track of what has been

called the most grueling – and the longest– solar car race in the world.

Well done, McMaster University SolarCar Team!

The fifteenth anniversary of the ever-popular summer Venture Scienceand Engineering Camps was over-

whelmingly successful. “We had close to900 kids enrolled this summer!” notes CarmVespi, Manager, Alumni Relations, Engi-neering Alumni Office. “We exceeded ourtarget enrolment.”

Venture Camps consist of two programs.The Engineering and Science section(Grades 4 to 8) focuses on exploring theworld and man-made machines, while theComputers & Technology program (Grades4 to 10) looks at computers and exploreshow they work. The goal is to provideresource-rich programs that will spark a life-long interest in learning and discovery. Theprimary emphasis, however, is having fun.

The one-week sessions offer hands-oneducational projects, from dissection andwebsite design to chemistry and computergame creation, as well as fun recreational

and social activities. The year’s Venturestudents investigated all realms of sciencefrom gravity to hydraulics and engaged invarious research projects and building neatstuff such as computer games andwebsites.

The program continues to attract strongsupport from funders, which helps to offsetthe registration fee. This year, theHamilton Ti-Cats got into the game in abig way. Venture campers were challengedto design a new innovative stadium for thelocal football team. Three winning designswere selected each week of camp, with thelucky architects snapping up 2 tickets tothe October 21st home game.

The local football team carried the balleven further, offering to make the event“Venture Day” at the stadium. Parents ofVenture campers were able to purchase Ti-

Cat tickets for the October 21st game atsubstantial savings during the weeklyFriday BBQs. Proceeds from tickets salessupported the Venture-Ti-Cat BursaryFund. Thank You, Ti-Cats!

This summer, Venture Camps wentgreen – participating in EnvironmentCanada’s One-Tonne Challenge…. to greatsuccess.

“The directors, curriculum coordinatorsand instructors who help organize and runVenture Camps are amazing,” Vespi says.As proof, she cites the second-placestanding McMaster Venture Camp securedagainst 27 other camps nationwide at theActua Summer Meetings. McMaster’sentry was the ‘air hockey table’.“Congratulation to all staff and a specialthank you to Angie and Erin for presentingthe project so well.”Venture camper working on his bumper car.

Venture camps keep on growing

Venture camper designs and plays a new computer game.

Chemical Engineering

John Brash was appointed Directorof the McMaster School of BiomedicalEngineering for a three-year term,commencing April 1st.

Congratulations to Raja Ghosh on hisCanada Research Chair in BioseparationsEngineering. The use of membrane-basedtechnologies for bioseparations engineeringis an important step in the development andmanufacture of pharmaceutical products, butthe process is technically difficult and expen-sive. Ghosh’s research is expected to cut thecost of production of biopharmaceuticals,helping to make these healthcare productsmore affordable and more widely available.

In May, Veli Hristov, a Ph.D. candi-date working with John Vlachopoulos,received the Lew Erwin Scholarship fromthe Extrusion Division of the Society ofPlastics Engineers. The scholarship, estab-lished to honor plastic process innovatorDr. Lew Erwin, is designed to supportresearch in the field of extrusion.

Andy Hrymak is keeping busy! Hehas been renewed as Chair of theDepartment for a five-year term. He hasjust completed a term as Director of the McMaster Manufacturing ResearchInstitute (MMRI). In July, Hrymak alsoassumed the role of Director of the newSchool for Engineering Practice for a five-year term. He is the newly-appointedEditor-in Chief of International PolymerProcessing, the journal of the PolymerProcessing Society. Recently, Hrymakreceived a Fellowship to the ChemicalInstitute of Canada (CIC).

Congratulations to Dave Latulippewho received the J. Armand BombardierInternationalist Fellowship for 2005/06.When he completes his Masters, Latulippewill begin Ph.D. studies at Penn State. TheFellowship enables Canadians to study,research and work abroad in order to buildtheir international competence. Only 25Fellowships were awarded out of 600applications.

Welcome back to Bob Pelton andHeather Sheardown who are returning

from research leaves. All the best to TomMarlin as he begins a one-year researchleave.

The McMaster Chemical Engi-neering Club, which sponsors aca-demic, social and charity events, is therecipient of the Canadian Society forChemical Engineering Student’ Chapters’Merit Award for 2005. A representative ofthe Club will receive the plaque at the 55thCSChE Conference in Toronto in October.

Computing & Software

Paul Taylor has begun a well-deserved research leave following seven-and-a-half years as Chair of theDepartment. Under his leadership, thedepartment hired many new facultymembers and launched new undergraduateprograms in Software Engineering, as wellas graduate programs in Computer Scienceand Software Engineering. The Depart-ment extends a hearty “thank you” for hisyears of dedicated service.

The Department welcomes associateprofessor Martin von Mohrens-childt to the position of Acting Chair forthe coming year.

Congratulation to Tamas Terlaky onbeing awarded a Distinguished VisitingProfessorship at the Faculty of InformationTechnology, University of Veszprem inHungary. The appointment was made

during the June convocation ceremony. Dr.Terlaky was also recently acclaimed aFellow of The Fields Institute at theInstitute’s annual meeting in June at theUniversity of Toronto.

Materials Science &Engineering

Congratulations to Jun Fan who wonthe best Chemistry Presentation at theCanadian Materials Science Conference inVancouver in June. The presentation wastitled “Morphology Transition of BinaryAlloys by Phase-Field Model”. A total ofseven students from the Department partic-ipated and delivered high quality presenta-tion and posters at the Conference.


Change of address card:

Name:_______________________________________________________________________________

Grad Yr. & Dept.: _____________________________________________________________________

New Address: _________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________ Fax: ________________________________________

Postal Code: __________________ E-mail:_________________________________________________

Comments: (present occupation, recent accomplishments ie: awards, recognitions).

____________________________________________________________________________________

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Any comments provided will be included in the next issue.

Departmental newsbriefs

When Saturday, October 15th, 2005

Where McMaster University What Explore the exciting field of engineeringthrough this special event for girls (Grades 7and 8)! Meet women currently studying engi-neering, learn about some of the amazing thingswomen engineers are doing, and participate incool hands-on activities.For more information please [email protected]


To: Ms. Carm VespiManaging EditorThe MacEngineerFaculty of EngineeringJohn Hodgins Building, Room A 201DMcMaster UniversityHamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 24906 Fax: (905) 546-5492E-mail: [email protected]

Engineering Co-op & Career Services

In past columns, Engineering CareerServices (ECS) has written about howyou as graduates can give back to Mac by

supporting many of its programs and initia-tives. This time, the focus is on the manyways ECS can assist you long after you leavethe University with degree in hand.

In your role as employer, you will wantto take advantage of opportunities toinform potential grads about yourcompany and its employee requirements.Our annual Careers Day, scheduled thisyear for Monday September 19th, is a greatway to inform possible future employeesabout your company, and seek out thebrightest and best of potential grads duringtheir final year. Corporate participants havetold us that the day-long event has provento be an excellent graduate on-campusrecruitment vehicle for them. Pre-registra-tion is required for this event.

Co-op/Internship postings are handledfrom January to April, and link your organ-ization with the best students for yourneeds. In addition, your company’s full-and part-time job postings are accepted byECS staff at anytime during the year. Thisfree service connects you with eager youngundergrads and grad students looking toacquire experience and broaden their hori-zons. Posting can be for any job in any

Assisting Eng alumni post-graduationsector, from technical engineering posi-tions to business. By taking part in any ofthe above, as well as actively participatingin our information sessions and careerpanels, your company gains recognitionamong graduating students. In fact, theECS will work with you and yourcompany to customize events to meet yourspecific needs.

As an employee, you may find yourselfwanting a career change or family require-ments may mean that you have to relocate.The ECS can help. Resume critiques andjob postings have become popular servicesthat many professionals like yourself havetaken advantage of, to help them with mid-career challenges. A new service has beenadded this year – alumni can ask for theassistance of an employee counselor. Thisfree service, a combined project withAlumni Affairs and the Careers Centre,provides a skilled counselor who will workwith individuals to enhance their employ-ment possibilities.

ECS is pleased to be able to providethese programs for you. Discover more atwww.eng.mcmaster.ca/ecs.

We also ask that you and your companybecome involved in ECS programs. It’s agreat way to give back to Mac Engineeringand meet bright engineers of the future!

Please consider joining one of our career oremployee panels. Or you can participatein our new focus group, which is seekinginput from alumni on how best ECS canmeet the needs of our alumni employersand employees. Contact Anne Markey [email protected] or call 905-525-9140 x-27283.

Engineering Careers with HATCH Ltd.

POSTING #229

Continued growth at Hatch Ltd. has led toexcellent opportunities for engineering pro-fessionals to enrich their careers at ourSudbury corporate office.

Engineers, Designers andTechnologists are sought

in the following areas:

MechanicalElectrical

PipingControl and Automation

Civil/StructuralProcess

The successful candidates will have a rele-vant degree or diploma with a minimum of 5years’ experience in heavy industrial engi-neering and/or mining and metals. The attrib-utes most sought after are self-management,professionalism in deliverables, motivation,and a proactive outlook. These positions willbe based out of our Sudbury office, butextensive opportunities exist for national andinternational assignments.

HATCH logo goes here

Hatch is a leading global consulting, engineer-ing, technologies, information systems, andproject and construction management organi-zation. Hatch provides a full range of technol-ogy driven, value added solutions and servicesto clients in the mining, minerals, metals, man-ufacturing, infrastructure and energy sectorsthrough a network of over 40 permanentoffices worldwide. Hatch is an employee-owned company, which is world-renowned fortechnical excellence and industry leadership.Visit our website at http://www.hatch.ca/.

Submit cover letter and résumé as oneMS Word file, quoting Position #229 to:

[email protected] by August 30, 2005.

MacChemEng&MgtTaylor, Shawn ’95 Chemical Eng. &Mgmt., ’97 M.Eng : Recently promoted toManager, Fluids Research & LaboratoryServices at Edmonton-based SchlumbergerReservoir Fluids Center. Contact him [email protected].

MacCivEngShaw, Jane ’82: Greetings everyone! I am currently living in Brunei on BorneoIsland with my IT manager husbandWallace (U.of Toronto,’81) and our threekids aged 12, 7 and 5. I work as a Projectengineer at the Public Works Departmentfor the Ministry of Development. I wouldlove to hear from Barb, Janine and Liz [email protected].

MacComp&SoftwareLalonde, Neil ’00: Currently employed asa software developer with IBM Canada,working on a team in the IBM Silicon ValleyLab in California.

Chan, Ava ’95: Married Kent Cheng(Civil Eng. ’95) in 1999. At time of writing,our son Ethan (2002) is eagerly awaiting the

arrival of our new baby boy in May. We livein Hong Kong and Kent travels across Chinadoing chemical trading. I work for CLPPower here in Hong Kong.

MacElEng&MgtDobson, David ’86: Appointed in Juneas the new CEO of Corel Corp., with respon-sibilities for acquisition opportunities andexpansion initiatives in new markets. Davejoins Corel from IBM, where he had beenfor 20 years, most recently as vice-presidentof strategy.

Gray (nee Kambula), Lorraine ’05:Married Landon Gray on July 23, 2005. Theymet at a Golden Key International HonourSociety Conference in Ottawa in February2003.

MacMatSci&EngConlon, Kelly T ’98 Ph.D.: Along with mycolleagues David Dye and Roger Reed, I amthe recipient of the 2005 American Society forMetals (ASM) “Marcus A. GrossmannAward” for a paper we published in Met Translast year. I will be accepting the award inPittsburgh at the TMS Fall Meeting. Still inthe Fuel Development Branch at AtomicEnergy of Canada’s Chalk River Laboratories.

MacMechEng&MgtTalalla, Dominic ’92: I have joined TrellisCapital Corporation as a Managing Partner.Trellis Capital is a private independentToronto-based Venture Capital Fund thatinvests in companies that have developedleading technologies in manufacturing, mate-rials, energy, electronics and semiconductors.I will be assuming interim operational rolesin those companies that require hands-onassistance, and evaluating and investing inbusiness opportunities that meet TrellisCapital’s investments criteria.

MacCompEng&MgtJahshan, Dalia ’02: My husband Ghassanand I are proud to announce the birth of ourbaby girl, Yasmine on May 7, 2005.


TheMacEngineerTheMacEngineerThe MacEngineer is printed and produced by

Managing Editor: Carm Vespi,Engineering Alumni Officer

Editorial Committee: Dave S. Weaver,John Preston, Terry Milson, Carm Vespi

Art Direction and Design: WordsmithDesign and Advertising

Contributing Writers: AdministrativeCoordinators, Terry Milson, TrudiDown, Carm Vespi, Judy Mair, EugeneNakonechny

Alumni Grapevine

Alumni and FriendsHave you moved, taken a newjob, got something you would

like to say, any other news?We would like to hear from you.

Contact Carm Vespi [email protected]

Technician receivesoutstanding service award

Anna Robertson is a recipient of a President’s Award forOutstanding Service.

A technician in the Department of Civil Engineering, Robertsonhas three areas of responsibilities. She oversees the operation ofthe environmental laboratories for the use of both undergrad andgrad students; she is Course Coordinator, Level I with responsi-bility of supervising the teaching assistants; and she is theSupervisor of the Technology Skills Enhancement Facility.

In the citation, Robertson is commended for showingoutstanding commitment and dedication to the entire Faculty ofEngineering. “There is virtually no problem she cannot solve, either in a technical senseor a pedagogical/curriculum sense.” It also mentions how she often intuitively knowswhat is required by students, that she takes the time to get to know them individually,and has “an innate ability to motive students”.

The annual awards were presented by University President Dr. Peter George in May,to recognize employees who have made a contribution beyond that normally expectedfor their positions. Eligible employees must be non-faculty members and not holdsenior manager positions in their areas.

Anna Robertson

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Alumni EventsGrrrrreat Golf The third annual Engineering golftournament, held on May 26th, was a swinging success! A sell-out crowdof 144 golfers took to the greens totest their swings at the beautifulCrosswinds Gold & Country Club inMilton, Ontario. In all, 155 attendedthis event. In addition to the 18-holeTournament (Scramble Format), theyenjoyed a sausage BBQ and a numberof excellent prizes were won. Top Prizewent to Team #9: Dominic Tatalla,Peter Popowycz, John Guerriero andJames Politeski. Following a fabulousday on the greens, everyone gatheredfor a delicious roast beef buffetdinner.

Mark your calendars now for nextyear’s tourney: May 25th, 2006.Same place. Same terrific fun!

Alumni WeekendAbout 100 engineering alumnigathered to renew friendships andexchange stories on Saturday June4th during Alumni Weekend. Thefeatured classes of ’65, ’80 and ’85were well-represented, and werejoined by a strong contingent ofretired Chem. Eng. profs, Drs. JohnVlachopoulos, MacGreger, Hoffman,Cam Crowe and Don Woods.

Class of 1965

Winning Team: Congratulations to Team #9,Dominic Talalla, Peter Popowycz, JohnGuerriero and also James Politeski, who isabsent from photo.

Team #1: John Monkman, Andy Kurelik, DavidBerdusco, Adam Vespi

Team #6: Peter Crockett, Paul Cripps, RonScheckenberger, Gary Moore

Class of 1985Class of 1980

Documents

MacEngineer Fall 2005