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Nicholas Isyumov Full Interview
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Abstract: Wind engineer Dr. Nicholas Isyumov chose to study engineering at Western in London, his home town, and became interested – in the days before computers – in the use of physical models. His first job, in 1960, was with the Timber Mechanics Section of the Forest Products Laborator in Ottawa. While testing roof trusses, he had many technical discussions with Bill Schriever, a snow engineering expert… more
Martin Fandrich Full Interview
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Abstract: Mechanical engineer Dr. Martin Fandrich recalls feeling engineering was the right career when he recognized he could readily visualize cross sections of objects in an undergraduate graphics class. He received a prestigious scholarship to earn his PhD from the University of Cambridge, studying vibrations. He returned to work for Rolls-Royce in Montreal, in particular the conversion of gas turbine… more
Yves Choinière Full Interview
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Abstract: Agricultural engineer Yves Choinière describes his work – he considers himself generalist who applies technology from many engineering disciplines to the creation of food. Over the past two decades, farming has been transformed by automation – for example: monitoring animal well being, milking robots, feeding robots in milk production; GPS-controlled tractors that optimize seeding, fertilizer or… more
Susan Tighe Full Interview
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Abstract: Civil engineer Dr. Susan Tighe was named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 for her leadership and vision supporting Canada's transportation community. Although her undergraduate degree was chemical engineering, she worked summers for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and developed an interest in civil engineering materials, particularly pavements. She completed Masters and PhD degrees at the… more
Garry Lindberg Full Interview
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Abstract: Aeronautical engineer Dr. Gary Lindberg demonstrated strong skills in math and science during his childhood in rural Alberta and entered first-year engineering at the University of Alberta at age 15. He then received an Athlone Fellowship to earn his PhD at the University of Cambridge, researching the application of digital computers – then a fledgling technology – to dynamic analysis using the… more
Kwan Yee Lo Full Interview
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Abstract: Geotechnical engineer Kwan Yee Lo decided upon graduation in 1957 to do graduate research in soil mechanics at Imperial College London. His Masters of Science work was supervised by Professor Skempton, with Dr. Robert Gibson and visiting Professor Davis from the University of Sydney contributing significantly. In October 1959, he started at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, where he… more
Peter Lighthall Full Interview
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Abstract: Geotechnical engineer Peter Lighthall is a third-generation civil engineer who studied at the University of British Columbia, graduating in 1971. His first job, for BC mining firm Placer Development, involved construction of a tailings dam to impound mine waste for a new mining operation. Earle Klohn, principal of the firm Klohn and Leonoff, was the principal designer. Two and a half years later… more
Bruce McGibbon Full Interview
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Abstract: Military engineer Bruce McGibbon describes his experiences as an engineer in, and consultant for, the Canadian Armed Forces. After pursuing military studies at College Militaire Royal de St Jean and Royal Military College, he was posted to One Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Gagetown, NB. He took graduate courses in Computer Science at UNB and used these to develop programs to guide missile… more
Guy Van Uytven Full Interview
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Abstract: Electrical Engineer Guy Van Uytven passed an admission exam, just after the end of World War II, to enter the Royal University of Ghent, the top engineering school in Belgium, specializing in "zwakke stroom" or "weak currents", basically electronics. His first job was with the oil services exploration firm Schlumberger, who gave him a ticket to fly to Lisbon the day he was interviewed. He then… more
Celia Desmond Full Interview
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Abstract: Electrical engineer Celia Desmond describes her unusual entry to an engineering career and her subsequent professional achievements. Her first work at Telco involved applying queuing theory to the management of shared data lines and then standardizing equipment that would connect to computer networks. She spent a year in the Human Resources department and then moved into customer support and… more
Sarah Devereaux Full Interview
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Abstract: Friends of Sarah Devereaux's family were civil engineers, so she knew from an early age that this would likely be her calling. While an undergraduate student at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, her interests transitioned from structural to environmental engineering, and she stayed to earn a Master's degree in Water Resources. She then joined Halifax office of Dillon Consulting, initially… more
Suzelle Barrington Full Interview
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Abstract: Dr. Suzelle Barrington was the first Canadian woman to receive a doctorate in agricultural engineering from Macdonald Campus at McGill University. She grew up on a farm near Moose Creek, a half hour east of Ottawa, and, after a year of science at Carleton University, switched to agricultural engineering at McGill. She was turned down for her first job with the Government of Ontario because she… more
Denise Leahy Full Interview
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Abstract: Geotechnical engineer Dr. Denise Leahy describes her post-secondary education at Laval and the Institute for Geotechnique in Trondheim, Norway. Her first engineering job was as a technician at the La Grande hydro-electric dam at Baie James, where, sue to security issues, women could not work outside the laboratory. After completing her PhD, she took a job at Geocon, an affiliate of Lavalin, where… more
Karl Doetsch Full Interview
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Abstract: Aeronautical engineer Dr. Karl Doetsch did an apprenticeship with English Electric, an aeronautic company in the UK, before starting his university studies at Imperial College in London. Within months of starting there he worked on the development of the TSR2 aircraft, which was similar to the Avro Arrow, particularly wind tunnel testing to assess its behaviour at low speeds. He completed his PhD… more
David S. Weaver Full Interview
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Abstract: Dr. David Weaver describes his youthful interest in gasoline-engine powered go-karts, home-built radios, servicing cars, and how this led him to study mechanical engineering. He left his first job with the Ford Motor Company in Oakville to return to university for a Master's degree on satellites for Spar Aerospace and then a PhD in mathematics and physics. He found a university position and began… more