Professors Sanjeev Chandra (MIE), Andrew Goldenberg (MIE), Chul Park (MIE), Michael Sefton (ChemE/IBBME) and Paul Young (CivE) have been elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The AAAS is the largest international organization dedicated to advancing science or its applications on a global basis. The University of Toronto received five of the 53 Fellowships awarded in the Engineering Section, more than any other single institution.
Professor Chandra is known internationally for his research on the dynamics of droplets and sprays, which has been applied in the fields of spray coating and forming, spray cooling, ink jet printing, agricultural spraying and forensic sciences. The co-founder and Associate Director of the Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies, he received the 2010 NSERC Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in recognition of his achievements as part of this world-leading organization. Professor Chandra was elected “for distinguished research contributions on the dynamics of droplets and sprays and the advancement of thermal spray coating technology through the Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies.”
Before joining the Faculty in 1982, Professor Goldenberg was employed at SPAR Aerospace Ltd. and participated in the development of the Canadarm, the first space shuttle remote manipulator system. Through his work at the Robotics and Automation Laboratory at U of T and his two successful spin-off companies, Professor Goldenberg is taking a leading role in the development of new robotics technology for a range of industrial sectors – his research has resulted in more than 30 patents. He was elected AAAS Fellow “for contributions to the robotics field by way of sustaining a leading academic career in parallel with founding and leading innovative robotics and automation commercial enterprises.”
Professor Park holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Microcellular Plastics and is the founding Director of the Microcellular Plastics Manufacturing Laboratory, one of the world’s foremost research institutions in the field of microcellular plastics foaming technology. Professor Park jointly invented the MuCell™ technology for the manufacture of microcellular plastics with superior mechanical properties; this technology has been licensed by over 450 industrial companies. He was elected in recognition of his “distinguished contributions to the field of microcellular plastics through his research, his development of over twenty patented technologies and his creation of international consortia.”
University Professor Sefton is a pioneer in tissue engineering and a world leader in the fields of biomaterials, biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine. He holds the title of University Professor, the highest rank possible at U of T, and the Michael E. Charles Chair in Chemical Engineering. He has co-invented polymers with therapeutic benefits which address limitations in the use of medical devices. These novel materials, termed Theramers™ (for therapeutic polymers) are the first examples of a new class of biomaterials – materials with drug-like activity. He was elected for “distinguished contributions to tissue engineering, particularly the microencapsulation of live cells and combining live cells and synthetic materials to create artificial tissue.”
Currently serving as Vice-President, Research for the University, Professor Young pioneered many of the techniques used today in monitoring and interpreting induced seismicity in the mining, petroleum and nuclear waste disposal industries. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of the mechanics of fracturing in brittle materials, induced seismicity, micromechanical modelling and geophysical imaging. Professor Young has served as founding Director of the Lassonde Institute for Engineering Geoscience and as Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering. His election is based on his “distinguished contributions to research and technological advancement in rock mechanics and geophysics and an exemplary record of service in academic administration.”
“We are grateful and proud that the AAAS has honoured five of our faculty members for their exceptional contributions to engineering,” said Cristina Amon, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “The continuing recognition of our professors by this prestigious international organization demonstrates the outstanding global reputation our Faculty enjoys.”
The new Fellows will be announced in the December 23 issue of Science and honoured at the AAAS Fellows Forum on February 18, 2012 in Vancouver, B.C.
