U of T Engineering graduate Sami Khan (ChemE 1T1 + PEY) is one of 39 recipients of the 2012 Trinity College Dublin Undergraduate Awards, winning in the Engineering & Mechanical Sciences category.
The prestigious international Undergraduate Awards program acknowledges top students from across the globe for their innovative undergraduate research. This year, close to 3,000 submissions were assessed by the judging committee, including Khan’s fourth-year thesis entitled, Centrifugal Separation of Feces for a Novel Toilet Design.
Western-style toilets are currently failing to the meet the needs of 2.5 billion people in the developing world, and is a challenge that engineers at U of T are actively researching. Khan’s project – which was supported by members of the ‘Reinvent the Toilet Challenge’ team – looked into how centrifugation can be a viable method of clarifying enough liquid waste for UV disinfection, thereby eliminating disease-causing pathogens.
“This award is such an honour and a testament to the strong support network offered at U of T Engineering. Professor Mark Kortschot (ChemE) provided me with valuable and dedicated supervision during my thesis work,” said Khan.
“I am still in a state of disbelief with the results,” he added. “I am grateful for the opportunity the Undergraduate Awards is providing me in Dublin. In particular, I greatly look forward to meeting the Honorable President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.”
In March, Khan was also recognized by the University with a 2012 Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award for his outstanding extracurricular contributions and his extensive involvement with U of T Engineering’s Leaders of Tomorrow program.
“On behalf of the Faculty, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sami Khan. His recognition on an international stage is a reflection of our commitment to graduating world-class engineers – engineers who innovate and strive to solve the world’s most important problems,” said Dean Cristina Amon, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.
The 2012 recipients will travel to Ireland in November for a three-day summit to gain exposure to a wealth of cultural experiences and connect with influential figures in industry, academia and politics.
Learn more about Khan and other U of T winners at U of T News .
