AN UNFORGETTABLE YEAR: A PROMISING FUTURE

Over the past eight months, Western Engineering displayed the best of both worlds – the old and the new.  Through its 50^th Anniversary year, the Faculty reminisced about the past and celebrated many tremendous accomplishments of its students, alumni, faculty and staff.  We also looked forward, involving our students in shaping the future, encouraging them to display their initiative and creativity in the many outstanding design projects, including those surrounding the planning of Western Engineering’s showcase facility: the environmentally sustainable Green Building. 

"The Green Building has been a dream of ours for some time now," says Dean Berruti.  "It is a vision that we are pushing to become reality.”

Numerous faculty members and students were recognized for their accomplishments this past academic year.  Awards include, but are not limited to:

• Professor Jesse Zhu, professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, was appointed Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Powder Technology Applications
   

• Joelle Faulkner, a fourth-year Chemical Engineering - Ivey student and business owner, is on her way to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar
   

• Hugo de Lasa, professor in the Department of  Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and Director of the Chemical Reactor Engineering Centre received two awards: (1) the prestigious R.S. Jane Memorial Award at the 54th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference and (2) an Honorary Doctoral Degree "Doctor Honoris Causa" in Chemical Engineering from The Universitad Autonoma de Zacatecas (Mexico)
   

• Rajni Patel, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received a Canada Research Chair in Advanced Robotics and Control
   

• Engineers Without Borders (EWB) officially launched a Western chapter
   

• Jin Jiang, professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, has been awarded $2 million over the next five years by NSERC and UNENE for his leading research as the Chair in Control, Instrumentation and Electrical Systems for Nuclear Power Plants
   

• After a long hiatus, Western’s Civil & Environmental Engineering Department put together a team of six members to participate in the annual Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race and brought home the Best Rookie Team Award
   

• Jeff Wood, professor in the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, will direct an $800,000 project over the next four years with GDLS-Canada
   

• Matt Thompson, a fourth-year Western Electrical Engineering student, was selected as the winner of the NRC Energy Ambassadors competition
   

• Lisa Feldman, a PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was awarded an American Concrete Institute (ACI) Student Fellowship valued at $10,000 plus benefits for the 2005-2006 academic year

  “These amazing accomplishments showcase Western Engineering’s exemplary performance in research, teaching and student activities,” says Dean Berruti.  “I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of all the Western Engineering faculty, staff and students.”

  As April comes to a close, so does the 2004 – 05 academic year.  It is an emotional time of year as we wish our graduates the absolute best for their futures yet saddened to see them leave.  To those who will be leaving us at the end of April, we wish you the best of luck with your future endeavors.  Dean Berruti offers you the following advice, “Use your knowledge wisely and commit to serve society with the highest degree of ethics, integrity and professionalism.  You now have the skills to be leaders in the community.  Seize the opportunity to make a positive difference.”

  What are the plans for Western Engineering’s future?  “Next year we will continue to evolve as a top Canadian Engineering School of modest size; offering our students an incredibly large number of opportunities to diversify and excel in their studies,” says Dean Berruti.  “As a Faculty, we recognize that today’s students are unique individuals with specific wants, needs and aspirations.  We will continue to evolve to meet the demands of these 21^st Century students. Our aim is to help our students become the next generation of society’s engineering leaders”.

  The Faculty will also undergo some renovations over the summer months.  For example, two classrooms in the Spencer Engineering Building (SEB 3109 and 2094) will receive a makeover.  SEB 3109 will be transformed to include tiered seating like 2099, and both 3109 and 2094 will receive new furniture and multi-media systems.   And, we are thrilled to inform you that the cafeteria in SEB will receive a brand new look.  In September we will be opening Leonardo DaVinci’s, with a full serve Tim Horton’s, Pizza Pizza and many other selections.  There will be seating for over 90 people and a lounge area for faculty, staff and students to relax.