Former Dean and Professor Emeritus Michael E. Charles, FCAE, PEng, has been elected President of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), and started his presidency on June 4, 2010 at the conclusion of the CAE’s Annual General Meeting in Toronto.
The CAE is an independent, self-governing, non-profit organization serving the technological development of Canada by marshaling the knowledge and insights of eminent members of the engineering profession.
“It is an honour and a privilege to serve as President of the Academy,” said Professor Charles. “I will do my best to promote its objectives and at the same time reach out to other organizations which can help us respond to multi-disciplinary challenges, particularly with regard to Canada’s future in energy and the environment.”
Professor Charles has served in positions of leadership in both the public and private sectors. He was elected as a Fellow of the Academy in 1998 and has served on its Board of Directors since 2008.
Professor Charles is an influential figure in engineering, education and academic leadership. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering from 1993 to 2001. He has continued to be active, serving on the Board of the Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations (CIPI), and undertaking assignments under the auspices of the Council of Ontario Academic Vice-Presidents and the Alberta Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology. A chemical engineer, with a Bachelor of Science (Engineering) from Imperial College, London, United Kingdom and a PhD from the University of Alberta, he worked for the Research Council of Alberta and Imperial Oil before joining the University of Toronto.
His research has focused on novel problems associated with the pipeline transport of complex crude oils and particulate solids which resulted in some sixty-five publications. Having served as a member of the Governing Council of the University of Toronto, on the Boards of three of the Ontario Centres of Excellence, Charles is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Chemical Institute of Canada, and is a Senior Fellow of Massey College.
“Professor Charles’ record of professional accomplishment is exemplary, and this latest honour, election as President of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, again affirms his highly-regarded, extensive contributions to scholarship, education and professional cooperation,” said Professor Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “The prestige and influence of U of T academic leaders is further demonstrated by the fact that we now count two out of the three academy Presidents as our own.”
Professor Catharine Whiteside, Dean of U of T’s Faculty of Medicine and Vice Provost, Relations with Healthcare Institutions, is serving as President of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences for the 2009-2011 term.
The Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) comprises many of the country’s most accomplished engineers, who are committed to the application of science and engineering principles in the interests of the country and its enterprises. Established in 1987, the CAE is a member of the Council of Canadian Academies along with the Royal Society of Canada (Arts and Science) and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. The CAE is also an active member of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS), which involves 26 leading countries.
Members of the Academy are nominated and elected by their peers to honorary Fellowships, in view of their distinguished achievements and career-long service to the engineering profession. Fellows of the Academy are committed to ensuring that Canada’s engineering expertise is applied to the benefit of all Canadians, and can be identified by the FCAE after their names.
