macengineer winter 2004

F A C U L T Y O F E N G I N E E R I N G M C M A S T E R U N I V E R S I T Y W I N T E R 2 0 0 4

TheMacEngineerVOLUME 29 NUMBER 1TheMacEngineer

Planningfor

growthSee page 5

Planningfor

growth

A message from the Dean

2 The MacEngineer M c M A S T E R U N I V E R S I T Y

Building Campaign .................5

Alumni Profiles .....................11

MES News ............................18

Engineering Career Services ................................21

Hey Alumni! Have you got something tosay, or any other news? We would like to hearfrom you. Contact Carm Vespi:

Tel: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24906Fax: (905) 546-5492e-mail: [email protected]: www.eng.mcmaster.ca

The MacEngineer is published by the EngineeringFaculty for its alumni. Distribution assistance isprovided by the Alumni Office.

Publication Number 40063416

inside this issue

Mo Elbestawi

This fall, the halls of our Facultybuildings bustled with students,some 800 new admissions. We are

experiencing an unprecedented populationgrowth in Engineering. Even though theaverage entering grade was about 85%, thenumber of students with at least 95%average has tripled.

In other news, the University Senate hasapproved two new M.Eng. programs:Engineering Entrepreneurship andInnovation, and Engineering and PublicPolicy. The Faculty has approved in prin-ciple the creation of the School for Bio-engineering which will provide a focus forgraduate education and research in thisemerging field. Several colleagues in theFaculty are responsible for the creation of

Faculty growth post double cohortthese new programs. I would liketo take this opportunity toacknowledge and thank all ofthem, particularly Dr. AndyHrymak, Dr. Brian Baetz and Dr.John Brash and their teams.

Long term enrolment targetsfor the Faculty are the subject ofcurrent debate and discussion atvarious levels. These discussionsare focusing on the question:What should be our “optimum”size, post double cohort?

On the positive side, growthmeans an increase in number ofstudents, faculty and staffallowing us to react to futureneeds of society. As well, thisallows us to develop newprograms in a number ofstrategic areas of interest such as bioengi-neering and environmental engineering,thus creating a critical mass of researchcapacity. Under certain conditions we willactually be able to reduce class size bybeing able to divide large classes intosections.

At the same time, we must be mindfulhow an increase in size may translate intothe quality of student intake; how this willaffect our research enterprise; and how thiswill affect our resources such as laborato-ries and student services. All of this willchange the culture of the Faculty.

Clearly, the Faculty plan must also fitwithin the University’s overall vision andplan as they are currently being articulatedin the “refining direction” exercise. Onefactor that is making these discussions evenmore difficult is the uncertainty sur-rounding government funding. Forexample, the provincial government hasrecently decided to freeze tuition fees attheir current levels for two years. It is notclear, however, whether this will be accom-

panied by increased funding to the univer-sities to meet increasing costs and improvethe student’s educational experience.

Rest assured that McMaster’s Engineeringis making every effort to ensure that allpossible avenues are explored as wejourney through this series of new andexciting changes. Again, I wish to empha-size that we welcome the views of allconcerned – students, staff, faculty, alumniand our neighbors in community andindustry – to help us discern our directionand fulfill our goals.

Mo Elbestawi, Dean of Engineering

600 cc Honda motorcycle engine. TheMcMaster team competes against mostlarge universities in North America andsome from overseas, many of which haveAutomotive Engineering programmes thatuse the SAE competitions as the focus forclass projects. Some of these teams alsohave extensive track facilities to test theircars, while the McMaster team isrestricted to using the Zone 6 parking lot

on weekends.Even so, at the 2002 competition in

Pontiac, Michigan, the McMaster teamplaced 17/144 in the Design category. TheTeam also attended for the first time the2002 competition in Leicester, England,and placed tenth overall and sixth inDesign. This was an outstanding perform-ance for a group of students for whom theSAE competition must take a back seat totheir studies.

For the next version of the car, the Teamplans to improve performance by addingsuperchargers and increasing the rigidityof the frame. The Team members are alsotrying to find other creative ways toimprove the performance of the car. Whenthe Dean asked what we could do to assistthe Team, the immediate response was, “Itwould be great if you could help us buymore books on car design!”

If you have any special expertise in themany aspects of car design, or even if youdon’t, these highly enthusiastic studentswould more than welcome your involve-ment. Contact names and more informa-tion can be found on the teams’ web sites at http://www.solarcar.mcmaster.ca/ andhttp://sae.mcmaster.ca/.

A message from the Associate Dean

The MacEngineer 3M c M A S T E R U N I V E R S I T Y

Every so often, I like to stand backand contemplate the rich andcomplex environment that we have

in the Faculty of Engineering. The 130professors and 110 full-time staff memberswork as a team, with each contributing hisor her unique skills to the enterprise. Someexplore beyond the limits of conventionalthinking and methodology, while othersfocus on optimizing the performance ofexisting systems. This diversity leads to akaleidoscope of ideas that enriches each ofour lives.

It is very rewarding when I see the samecharacteristics in our undergraduatestudents. Nowhere is this more evident thanin student initiatives, conceived and run bythe students themselves. Two such initia-tives are the Solar Car Team and theFormula SAE Team.

The Solar Car Team has about 90student members spanning the entireUniversity. They are currently working onupdating the current version of their car,Fireball II, in preparation for the FormulaSun Grand Prix in Topeka, Kansas, in May2004. In the last competition, they had oneof the lightest and most aerodynamic vehi-cles, but its reliability was disappointing.They are now testing the car in an effort toovercome the problems.

Next summer, they plan to start work onFireball III, to be used in the Chicago toLos Angeles American Solar Challenge2005. Planned improvements includehigher-voltage batteries and a new motor toreduce current consumption, and a newhigher-efficiency solar array. Over the pastfew weeks, the Solar Car Team developeda delightful car-chase video with the assis-tance of our Security Services to helprecruit new team members.

The SAE Formula Team consists ofover 20 Engineering students. Their car isan open-wheel single-seat racer with a

A kaleidoscope of ideas and skills

Dr. Peter Smith,Associate Dean of Engineering

2003 Enrolment High But ManageableMcMaster seems to have successfully accommodated the dreaded double cohort

which threatens at times to overwhelm classrooms and cause severe traffic flow inhallways, according to a report to the Senate in mid-September. As of September 10th,full-time undergraduate enrolment stood at 15,811, with 5,357 students enrolled inLevel 1. This is slightly higher than the University’s projected figure of 15,361.Undergrad enrolment for the 2002-2003 academic year was 14,692.

Associate vice-president academic Fred Hall says this is a good position forMcMaster. Some other universities are struggling to meet enrolment targets. “Theirshortfalls could affect their long term budget situations.” Noting that the University’saverage entering grade was increased this year, Hall adds that this could be “one of thebest entering classes we have ever had at McMaster.”

Dean of graduate studies Fred L. Hall reported that as of September 8th, 2,098 full-time graduate students were enrolled and the number was increasing daily. “This is thelargest number of graduate students that McMaster has ever had.”

Engineering news


by Pat Stevens

During fall 2003, I had the opportu-nity to participate in several activ-ities involving McMaster University

and Engineering Alumni. Let me sharewith you what has brought me and many ofmy former classmates back to Mac.

The Engineering Alumni AdvisoryCommittee met in September and mid-December to plan alumni events for 2004.This Committee is an eclectic group ofMacEng graduates, Carm Vespi and otherswho are dedicated to creating opportuni-ties for alumni to ‘Get Back to Mac!’ Ifyou have ideas of activities which wouldentice you and your former classmates toreturn to the campus, or if you are inter-ested in being a part of the Committee,please let me know!

In October, the Canadian Society ofChemical Engineering held its annualconference in Hamilton. As usual, theDept. of Chemical Engineering hosted itsalumni event at the same time; a goodnumber of alumni and many facultymembers attended the reception. It was awonderful opportunity to renew old friend-

Opportunities for Alumni to “Get Back to Mac”!

ships and visit with the professors whohelped shape our futures. A group of usfrom the class of ’80, along with Dr. CamCrowe, headed out afterward for an enjoy-able dinner. Several of us departed thatevening with a commitment to get togetheragain early in the new year.

In November, the MacLab Extravaganzawas held at the CIBC Hall in the newMcMaster University Student Centre. It

was a wonderful evening to renew moreacquaintances and hear an excellent pres-entation by Vince Smith, President andCEO of Dow Chemical Inc. and aMcMaster chemical engineering graduate.The event also provided participants withthe opportunity to view this magnificentnew building which is now the hub ofstudent life on campus.

The common thread through these activ-ities is opportunity – opportunity to speakwith former classmates and professors,opportunity to network both professionallyand personally, and opportunity to tour thecampus to experience the growth of thepast few years. There is also the opportu-nity to give some degree of support back tothe University and the Faculty.

There are many ways to ‘Get Back toMac!’The events that I participated in overthe fall are just a few examples. Thinkabout it….what would entice you?

Pat Stevens

Dr. Barber ReceivesEngineering Award

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers honorednine of their own on Friday November 14, 2003 at the annualOntario Professional Engineers Awards gala in Toronto. Theawards are presented to individuals for engineering excel-lence and community service. Dr. Douglas Barber, one ofthose recognized at the awards ceremony, was the recipientof the organization’s gold medal.

Barber, a former part-time professor of engineering physics at McMaster, is justcompleting a three-year term as Distinguished Professor-in-Residence in the Faculty ofEngineering. He received his PhD in electrical engineering from Imperial College,University of London, in 1965. In 1973 he was a founder of Linear Technology Inc, laterrenamed Gennum Corp. More recently, he helped found eMPOWR Canada, an organ-ization dedicated to lobbying Ottawa for funds to help ease faculty shortages in the high-tech disciplines. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors at McMasterUniversity.

Dr. Douglas Barber

Engineering physics professor RafaelKleiman is one of the world’s leadingresearchers studying MicroElectro Mech-anical Systems (MEMS) – transformingstatic silicon chips into minusculemachines that can feel, smell, see, hear andact. A futuristic example of such a“machine” is a sensor worn by a patientthat will conduct a test of his or herbiochemical levels and allow doctors toanalyze the results – without shippingsamples off to a lab. One day, Kleiman’sresearch lab may well be home to thedevelopment of such a device.

“As we start to miniaturize everything,we need to understand how the forcesbehave on a small scale,” said Kleiman, whojoined McMaster in July. “Things workdifferently as we make them smaller andbecause of that we need to understand howthey work so we can exploit them fully.”

Researcher toCreate University’sFirst MEMS Lab

continued on page 7


continued on page 14

Canada. A new 40,000 square foot engi-neering building will house these schools,and it too will be a first of its kind: the firstfacility designed and built to be an envi-ronmentally-friendly institutional facilityin the Hamilton area.

Support from our alumni, friends andindustry will help the Faculty reach its goalof $6 million by March 2005. Every giftwill help build McMaster Engineering’sfuture and secure its place as a premierinstitution in education and research.

Campaign PrioritiesMcMaster University’s new Engineering

building will be dedicated to realizing theFaculty’s vision. The new facility willexemplify collaborative, multi-disciplinarypartnerships and commitment to the broadercommunity and will allow us to foster inno-vative technical education programs.

The Faculty of Engineering is committedto creating a comfortable place to learn andwork while simultaneously demonstratingstate-of-the-art environmentally consciousdesign and function. The impact of ourbuilding and its operations will ensureminimum impact on the environment bymeans of “green” features such asreclaimed and recycled building materials,passive air exchange, computerized climatecontrol, and optimal use of natural light. Asa model facility, this building will show-case environmentally responsible andsustainable design and will reflect theimportant leadership role that engineersplay in creating sustainable communities.

McMaster University is home toone of Canada’s most research-intensive faculties of engi-

neering. We are highly recognized for thequality and innovation of our academicprograms.

From the very beginning, our Faculty ofEngineering has emphasized researchexcellence as the central theme to ouracademic mission and service to the widercommunity. Excellence in researchcontinues to be reflected in the Faculty’sfocus on scholarship at the undergraduateand graduate levels.

We have always cultivated strong part-nerships with industry as a means ofexpanding our educational objectives. Thelinks we continue to develop encourageprofessionalism in engineering, andenhance the relevance of the learning expe-rience to existing and emerging fields.

Our multi-stakeholder investment ininnovation recognizes and responds tofuture needs in education and in R&D. Withleadership fundamental to the learning envi-ronment, McMaster Engineering is deter-mined to provide the highest qualityeducation to the next generation of leaders.

The Faculty of Engineering has launcheda capital campaign that focuses on ourfundamental obligation to continue deliv-ering the latest and best possible programsin engineering education and research.

Two new schools are being created bythe Faculty: the McMaster School ofBioEngineering and the McMaster Schoolof Engineering Practice. Both schoolsinvolve firsts in education and research in

Source MIT: conceptual drawings of design centre

The McMaster School of BioEngineeringwill provide a unique collaborative envi-ronment that takes full advantage of ourexisting expertise in medical sciences andengineering and links current and emergingareas of molecular, medical, and bioengi-neering research.

This timely and major undertaking hasthe potential for a transformative impacton the University much as the establish-ment of the medical school did throughoutthe 1960’s and 1970’s.

The tremendous conceptual and techno-logical advances in biological and medicalsciences over the past decade, coupled withparallel advances in information tech-nology, instrumentation, bio materials, andnano-technology, have revolutionized theway we think about and investigate biolog-ical problems. Future advances in medicalresearch and application of new technologywill increasingly rely upon multi-discipli-nary ‘systems-wide’ approaches and newways of thinking about biological prob-lems. This in turn will require convergenceof biomedical and clinical scientists, engi-neers, physicists, chemists and many othersat the interface of medical molecularbiotechnology and engineering.

Currently there is a wide gap betweenresearchers trained in life sciences andthose trained in engineering – a gap thatrepresents an impediment to progress inmany health related areas. Major academic,research and development opportunitieswill present themselves to universities that

Faculty of Engineering createstwo new schoolsFaculty of Engineering createstwo new schools


the AIC Institute of Strategic BusinessStudies.

Electrical Engineer Joe Ng is thefounder of JNE Consulting Ltd., a localcompany that has partnered with majorfirms on both national and internationalprojects. The company employs 300 engi-neers, technologists, designers, construc-tion managers and support personnel. Nghas supported many Hamilton-based

community groups such as theUnited Way and local hospitals,and is a major benefactor to theFaculty of Engineering.

Patrick Guong-Ching Tan,permanent secretary of theSingapore Ministry of HomeAffairs, received his honorarydegree at the afternoon convoca-tion where he was the guest

speaker. Tan obtained both his under-graduate degree in chemical engineeringand a Masters of engineering in environ-mental pollution from McMaster. In hisposition as permanent secretary, he hasoverseen the implementation of strictersecurity measures to counter terroristthreats to Singapore and assisted theMinistry in dealing with the SARSoutbreak.

working on a chemistry problem in a lab attheir home school with results submittedonline.

The open house program offers thesestudents a chance to meet with universitystudents, faculty and professional engi-neers as well as seeing the on-going dailyactivities at the University. A variety ofdisplays, special presentations and tourswere featured.

“McMaster Faculties of Engineeringand Science, known for innovation and

education, excellence in research andquality of student life, offer the Olympicsas an innovative opportunity for students toactively participate in applying engi-neering and science principles throughfriendly competition and activities,” saysBob Loree, Director of Engineering 1.

Awards were presented to the top teamsin each event. More than $20,000 inMcMaster entrance awards were alsodistributed.

Engineer-in-Residence Program an Inspiring SuccessA program that puts engineering pro-

fessionals into Ontario classrooms hasquickly become an educational successstory. Launched in 1998 as a pilot projectin the Toronto area, the Engineer-in-Residence (EIR) program has expandedto include over 40 schools throughout theprovince.

Volunteer engineers who are matchedwith a school in their area work withteachers to develop a custom program ofhands-on activities, presentations andcompetitions that will engage the studentsand increase their awareness of the role ofengineering in society. “School and

education today are complicated, and kidsneed inspiration,” says EIR ProjectLeader Jeffrey Crelinsten. “My experi-ence with science and technology aware-ness has shown me that the successfulpeople have had role models.” Crelinstenis co-founder of The Impact Group,consultants on science and technologyawareness. The Impact Group adminis-ters the EIR program in Ontario.

The students are not the only onesreaping the benefits of this program.Research shows that innovative countriesactively develop strong links betweenindustry and education. Employers are

looking for people who are team playersand who can communicate as well asdevelop and execute a project plan. Theseare all components of the EIR program. Inaddition, the volunteer engineers say theyreceive tremendous satisfaction from theirparticipation in the program.

Mac engineer grad Lee Watson, Civil ’96,was a volunteer during the 2002-2003school year. He worked with teacherMichelle Gioskos and her students atPauline Johnson Public School in Hamilton.

For more information, visit the EIRwebsite at www.eir.ca or call the programoffice at 416-481-7070.

More than 500 students fromsouthern Ontario high schoolscongregated at McMaster in

mid-October for the annual McMasterEngineering and Science Olympics andOpen House.

Students participated in a friendlycompetition of events based on engineeringand science principles. This year, a newremote event concept was introduced alongwith the traditional on-campus competi-tion. This remote activity involves students

McMaster’s Engineering & Science Olympics

Michael Lee-Chin (B.EngCivil ’94), Joe Ng (nota grad from Mac) and

Patrick Tan (Chemical B.Eng. ’70M.Eng. ’72) were recipients ofhonorary Doctor of Laws degreesat McMaster’s fall convocationceremonies in November 2003.Lee-Chin also gave the address atthe morning convocation forgraduates from the Faculties of Business,Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts &Science Program.

Lee-Chin is chairman and chief execu-tive officer of AIC, Canada’s largestprivately-held mutual fund company. Thesuccessful businessman is known for hisgenerous philanthropy including a $5million gift to the University’s Michael G.DeGroote School of Business to establish

Honorary Degrees Conferred on Local Businessmen

Michael Lee-Chin Joe Ng Patrick Tan

Mac Prof Receives Alumni Award


Dr. Gary Purdy, a former Dean of theFaculty of Engineering, is the 2003 recip-ient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.The award was presented during the Fall2003 Convocation ceremonies.

Dr. Gary Purdy graduated in 1962 witha PhD in (Metallurgical) Engineering.During his forty years as a faculty memberat McMaster, Dr. Purdy has also served asDepartmental Chair and Associate Deanof Graduate Studies. He is currently theDirector of McMaster’s InterdisciplinaryCentre for Peace Studies.

Dr. Purdy has been recognized with anumber of honours and awards over thespan of his career including a ForeignAssociateship with the U.S. NationalAcademy of Engineering (NAE), aDiplom de Docteur Honoris Causa fromthe Insitut National Polytechnique deGrenoble, a Fellowship of the RoyalSociety of Canada, fellowships of two

international materials societies, theCanadian Metal Physics Medal and an Honorary Professorship at theUniversity of Science and Technology,Beijing P.R.C.

with awards for 2003. Launched in 1995 byNSERC and the Conference Board, theannual Synergy Awards for Innovationrecognize outstanding achievements ofuniversity-industry collaboration.

The Mac researchers and their partnerswere awarded the prize for their pioneeringmethods of recovering and interpretingdata. Their methods – advanced statistical

McMaster engineers JohnMacGregor and TheodoraKourti, along with Canadian

manufacturers Dofasco Inc. and TembecInc., have won a 2003 Synergy Award forInnovation from the Natural Sciences andEngineering Research Council (NSERC)and the Conference Board of Canada. Thepartnership was one of seven presented

Researchers Win National Innovation Award

There are few MEMSresearchers in the world witha better understanding of thistiny technology than Kleiman.After starting his undergrad-uate degree at the Universityof Manitoba, the Winnipegnative moved to the UnitedStates to study at MIT.

He then went to Cornell tocomplete his PhD. His deci-sion to return to Canada wasinfluenced, he says, by arenewed commitment by government and

universities here to increasesupport of scientific research.

Kleiman, who holds theCanada Research Chair inMicroElectroMechanicalSystems, comes to theUniversity from Bell Lab-oratories where he was asenior researcher. He plans towork closely with colleaguesin McMaster’s healthsciences faculty to studybiomedical applications for

micro-machines.

Dr. Rafael Kleiman

University’s First MEMS Labcontinued from page 4

modeling techniques known as multivariatestatistics (MVS) – manage many variablessimultaneously and extract valuable infor-mation from manufacturing process dataflows. These methods have lead to majoreconomic benefits and process and productimprovements.

MacGregor, a chemical engineer and anexpert in process control, says he recog-nized that “many companies created‘massive data graveyards’ – databasesloaded with millions of bits of informationabout their industrial processes – yet morethan 99 per cent of the information wasnever used.”

The researchers designed a system toretrieve and analyze key bits of informationto measure performance and ultimatelyimprove productivity. Both Dofasco andTembec have used the methods to provideoperators with the information they need towork more effectively. In the end, bothcompanies say that the system resulted inmajor cost savings and substantial qualityimprovements.

This is the fifth time McMasterresearchers and their partners have wonthis award.

Dr. Gary Purdy

Golf Tournament

2nd Annual McMaster

Engineering

Thursday, May 27, 2004Tyandaga Municipal Golf Course

Burlington, Ontario

“Shotgun” Start at 12 noonCost: $125 per participant

Contact: Carm Vespi905-525-9140, ext. 24906

[email protected] register online at:

http://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni

BOOK EARLY, SPACE IS LIMITED!

Mac Alumnus Receives PEO Honour

though it was pretty tough,she became hooked. Overthe next three years, shecompeted in progressivelylonger races. When this yeararrived and she’d alreadydone a half-marathon, sheknew her next step had to bethe full distance – 26.2miles, or 42 kilometers.

Tina Traini, ESSCOPresident for 1999-2000,has also been developingher athletic prowess over thelast few years, drawingupon her high-school swim-ming skills to become a triathlete. Whileworking as a consultant with Accenture inToronto, Tina trains regularly with running,swimming, and biking groups. She hascompeted in several triathlons since grad-uating from Elec&Society in 2000, mostrecently completing a Half-Ironman inOttawa on Labour Day. This left Tina ingreat physical shape, and though itreduced the time she was able to put intodedicated training for the marathon itself,she felt ready.

The three women arrived at the startingline in various states of preparedness and

Alumni news


On October 12, 2003, MacEng 2000grads Sarena Goldstein, Jess(Angus) Shulman, and Tina Traini

donned their running shoes and Canadaflag t-shirts to join 39,997 others in runningthe Chicago Marathon.

Sarena Goldstein, Mech&Mgmt ’00 andformer ESSCO VP Finance, lives nearMilwaukee, Wisconsin and works for GEMedical Systems as an R&F SystemsEngineer. She had never done a major roadrace before. Living so close to Chicago,however, it’s pretty difficult to avoidhearing the hype about the marathon – oneof the largest in the world. This was the26th year for the Chicago Marathon; theannual event draws over a million specta-tors. When a friend at work convinced herto run and she heard her old Mac buddieswere planning on racing too, she knew shecouldn’t back out.

Former MES President Jess (Angus)Shulman always hated running as ateenager. After graduating from Elec &Society in 2000, she took a job with GEMedical Systems (where she works todayin Mississauga as a Six Sigma Black Belt)and joined their on-site fitness centre. Thestaff at the fitness centre convinced Jess toenter a 5K race in the fall of 2000, and

Three Mac Friends Tackle a Marathon

Marathon runners (from left to right) Jess Angus, SarenaGoldstein and Tina Traini

Dr. Mohamed Khattab was namedEngineer of the Year by the ProfessionalEngineers of Ontario (PEO) duringEngineering Week 2003 (Hamilton-Halton), held the week of October 20,2003.

Dr. Khattab received his B.A. fromCairo University, his M.Eng in mechan-ical engineering from McMasterUniversity (1972) and a Ph.D. in mechan-ical engineering from the University ofWaterloo (1981). He has extensive indus-trial experience in the design of mechan-ical structures and equipments, anddeveloped many computer routines indesign and optimization. He has delivered

training courses in CAD/CAM and FiniteElement Method, is widely published, andholds many patents in Canada and theUnited States. In 1972 he joined NationalSteel Car Ltd, the biggest railroad freightcar builder in Canada. He left thecompany in 1991 to establish his ownfirm, M K Engineering.

A dynamic speaker and lecturer, Dr.Khattab also participates in a wide rangeof community activities including givingsermons at mosques and Islamic schoolsin Canada and the United States, organ-izing fund raising initiatives, and lecturingwith his wife on Islam in local schoolsand churches in the Hamilton area.

Engineer of the Year is conferred inrecognition of outstanding contributionsto engineering and service to the commu-nity. The theme of this year’s event was“Engineering in the Commonwealth” andattracted keynote speaker Cecilia Carter-Smith, a member of the CommonwealthGames Bid Committee.

Engineering Week 2003 also attracted anumber of parallel events including meet-ings of the Canadian GeotechnicalSociety (Southern Ontario Section), theCanadian Society of Civil Engineers, theInstitute of Transportation Engineers(Hamilton Area Section) and theHamilton Chapter of the PEO.

confidence. They took off just after 8 a.m.under sunny skies and ran their hearts outfor more than four-and-a-half hours. Alongthe way there were pains, dizzy spells,walk-breaks, periods of elation and periodsof depression, snacks, drinks, pain-killers,blisters, a brief trip to the medical tent, lotsof smiles and a few tears. All three camerunning across the finish line, tired and sorebut thrilled! The three friends from Machad truly come a long way!

It goes to show what you can do with alittle determination – so put down thismagazine and go outside!!

On September 25th, the McMasterEngineering Alumni were theguests of Kittling Ridge Winery.

Eileen Hall, one of the owners, graciouslywelcomed us and shared with us the fasci-nating history of Kittling Ridge.

Kittling Ridge was the dream of JohnHall. As an experienced wine maker, histalents for many years served and undoubt-edly benefited his employers in the wine-making industry. However, he wanted toproduce and market his own wines. Thedecision to do so involved the wholefamily and with the support of his wife anddaughters, John set out to find a locationfor his winery.

The Grimsby area has a rich history forwine making in the Niagara Peninsula. Inaddition, Mr. Reider, a European spiritsmaker, built his distillery just west ofGrimsby but after several years, was forcedto close his facility. Canada was not quiteready to appreciate his variety of distilledproducts. The closure proved to be awonderful opportunity for John Hall.Research showed that the area had just theright weather conditions for a winery; theescarpment, lake and a ridge of land inbetween, provided very good conditionsfor grape growing.

Grimsby is also known for an unusualannual event. Thousand of hawks, pere-grines, and other related fowl migratingnorth in April spend time resting in thearea. The wind currents coupled with thelake and land temperatures produce aircurrents that provide the perfect conditionsfor the birds to rest on their northward trek.This is called a kittling. The name KittlingRidge seemed a natural one for the newly-founded winery.

John wanted to do something thathadn’t been tried before in Canada –combine a winery with a distillery. To getapproval for such a venture proved to bea real challenge. After lobbying all levelsof government, he finally receivedapproval. Now, the real work ofproducing good-tasting, marketablewines and spirits began.

After Eileen’s entertaining and informa-tive talk, we were given a tour of thefacility, followed by a delicious meal atwhich we were served two of Kittling

Ridge’s fine wines. After the meal, weretired to the gift shop and tasting roomfor more samplings offered by John whowas able to take time from his busyschedule and work behind the bar. He wasquite at home serving samples of his prod-ucts and chatting with the group.

A special thank you to Carm, Iwona,and Linda for their untiring efforts to

make these wonderful occasions availablefor the Engineering Alumni members to enjoy. Everyone had a good timereconnecting with old friends andcolleagues, touring the facility andenjoying the hospitality of our hosts, Johnand Eileen Hall.

Reported by Carol Palombella


Engineering AlumnusReceives Hamilton Honour

A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and...

Enjoying a sample of Kittling Ridge Wine are (from left to right) Donna Cripps, Paul Cripps,Mary Crockett, Bob Drysdale, Peter Crockett, Cheryl Moore and Gary Moore.

William H. Filer, a professional engi-neer with a consulting firm in Hamilton,was inducted into the City of Hamilton’sGallery of Distinction at a gala ceremonyin November 2003. The Chief Warden ofCamp 13 at McMaster University, Filersupervises the traditional Iron Ring cere-mony every year for Mac’s graduatingengineers.

Filer, who is a Fellow of the CanadianAcademy of Engineering, has been

responsible for the construction of manylandmarks in the city including theUniversity’s nuclear reactor, the YMCA and Hamilton Place theatrecomplex. Filer, who graduated from theUniversity of Toronto in 1951, was oneof eight 2003 inductees. The Gallery,established in 1984, honours lifetimeachievements of citizens who have madea contribution to the community.

The MacEngineer welcomes your comments...Send your news and views to the editor at [email protected]

Guests joined McMaster faculty andstaff, along with University President PeterGeorge and Dr. Mo Elbestawi, dean of theFaculty of Engineering, in enjoying a deli-cious meal and an inspiring speech bykeynote speaker Vince J. Smith.

Smith, who graduated from McMasterin 1972 with a B.Eng in chemical engi-neering, spoke on “Making the Con-nection: Linking Chemistry to the Qualityof Life” – a timely and informative talk.The President and CEO of Dow ChemicalCanada Inc., Smith has responsibility forover 2,000 employees and $3 billion worth

of sales. He works out of the company’sFort Saskatchewan manufacturing site,maintains an office in Calgary and lives in Edmonton.

The MacLab (McMaster LaboratoryAdvancement Benefaction) fund was initi-ated by the McMaster Engineering Society(MES) in 1997. All in-course engineeringstudents pay a $50 fee for the renewal of equipment and labs. The annualExtravaganza event provides alumni andindustry with an opportunity to participatein the fund. All proceeds go towardsMacLab.

EngineeringGraduateHonoured forLeadership


MacLab Extravaganza 2003, heldin the CIBC Hall of theMcMaster University Student

Centre (MUSC) in November, attractedover 100 alumni, current students andrepresentatives from industry.

MacLab Benefit a Resounding Success

Engineering alumni were joined byalumni representing almost everyother Faculty at McMaster Univer-

sity in the 2nd annual Ottawa Alumni/Industry Night. The event, held at the CorelCentre in Kanata on October 21, 2003,attracted attendance from grads of chem-ical, computer, electrical, materials andmechanical engineering as well as engi-neering physics.

Forty-five people enjoyed a delicious

Ottawa Connections RemainStrong – & Growing

Lucky business card draw winners (from left to right): Rick Ellas (Eng.Phys. ’81), Ken Smith(Elect. ’77, M.Eng. ’80) and Glen Thurston (Eng. Phys. ’87).

Dan Olsen, who graduated in thespring of 2003 from the five-yearEngineering & Management Program,is the recipient of the President’s Awardof Excellence in Student Leadership.

A former president of the McMasterStudent’s Civil Engineering Society,Olsen was instrumental in establishingthe Engineers Without Borders (EWB)chapter at the University, providing lead-ership in the development of engineerswith social responsibility. ThroughEWB, he has worked with a rural devel-opment agency in India to design a rain-water harvesting system. In otherhumanitarian projects, he worked inMexico and Nicaragua building houses,and in Bolivia at an orphanage.

meal and the speech by Dr. John Brash ofthe Department of Chemical Engineeringon “Bioengineering – The Next TechnologyFrontier”. Guests, faculty and staff werejoined by Dr. Peter George, president andvice chancellor of McMaster University,and Dr. Mo Elbestawi, dean of the Facultyof Engineering, both of whom spokebriefly about the importance of main-taining connections between alumni andtheir alma mater.


Alumni profiles

ating,” he says, but adds that the manage-ment courses have been a huge help nowthat he has responsibility for overallcompany matters.

As President, Bot is involved with thefinancial and business management side ofthe company. He also takes an active role in

construction organizations like the OntarioRoad Builders Association (ORBA) and theOntario Sewer & Watermain Association(OSWA), was granted the Gold SealCertificate from the Canadian ConstructionAssociation, and is a member of theAssociations of Professional Engineers forOntario, Alberta, the Yukon and theNorthwest Territories.

After attaining his degree, he worked asAssistant Project Manager on the massiveJames Bay Hydro Electric Project innorthern Quebec, building dykes and dams.In the late 1980’s, he was the company’sChief Engineer and General Manager,overseeing projects that the company washandling for the transportation departmentsof federal, provincial and municipal levelsof government. He was Project Managerfrom 1989 to 1991 on the construction ofthe Zone 1 Short Range Radar Project inthe Canadian Arctic (previously known asthe DEW Line), an initiative that involvedbuilding 10 radar remote sites for theDepartment of National Defense.

Having a family business to go to aftercompleting an education has its advantages

the School for EngineeringPractice. His advice and wisdomhas enabled the Faculty to createa truly innovative program.

Loutfy was recruited to serveon the Dean’s Vision Committeeabout 16 months ago, to helpshape future engineering educa-tional and research programs.His current responsibilities atXerox include the long-termmaterials research and technologystrategy for the corporation, includingnew digital document media and organicelectronics. He joined Xerox in 1974, andhas held a variety of management posi-tions in materials research and businessdevelopment.

Xerox’s current President &CEO, Douglas Lord, is aMcMaster alumnus – a graduatefrom the Faculty of SocialSciences in 1973. Speaking at arecent McMaster Toronto Branchalumni event, he expressedXerox’s corporate responsibilityto provide education and socialservice efforts. This reflectsXerox’s belief that a successful

corporation must be an active participant insociety. Xerox freely gives back, whetherthrough financial contributions or throughadvice to the communities and universitiesfrom which they draw their employees,their customers, and their freedom toconduct business.

Roy Bot – continues the family business

When compared to XeroxCorporation, McMaster like-wise offers an innovative

approach to its offerings. With a wide arrayof products and services, and with anoutlook for solutions to improve the educa-tion and research endeavours, the Facultyof Engineering is boldly looking to influ-ential people in corporations for guidance.

With the help of Dr. Rafik O. Loutfy,corporate vice president and centremanager of the Xerox Research Centre ofCanada in the Xerox Innovation Group forXerox Corporation, McMaster’s Faculty ofEngineering includes Xerox among its topindustrial contacts in the development offuture programs. Dr. Loutfy was instru-mental in assisting with the development of

Bright Future for New Program Rooted in Industry

Dr. Rafik O. Loutfy

“If I had realized then the day to daybusiness pressures of today, Iwould have had a lot more fun at

university!”As President of Oakville-based Bot

Construction Limited, Roy Bot can beforgiven for feeling that perhaps he was abit too serious during his years atMcMaster. That sense of dedication andresolve followed him as he worked his wayup in the family-owned business, foundedby his father in 1957. The company isinvolved in all aspects of construction fromroadway and bridges to dams, railways andairports. In the past 20 years, BotConstruction has completed well over $200 million in civil construction projectsin the Hamilton-Halton region alone. Thecompany has and continues to workthroughout the Province of Ontario onmajor heavy civil engineering type projects.

A 1981 graduate of the CivilEngineering Program together with somemanagement courses, Bot admits that thisbranch of engineering was the logical stepto take, given that he was expected to enterthe family business. “You definitely applywhat you learn immediately after gradu-

Roy Bot



obtained a Doctor of Medicine in 1993.His residency was spent in family medi-cine at Queen’s University, Kingston.Currently, he is a family physician with the

Hamilton Urban Core Community HealthCentre in downtown Hamilton, and assis-tant clinical professor of family medicineat McMaster University. Until a year ago,he was also an emergency physician at theDouglas Memorial Hospital in Fort Erie.

One might have thought that his medicalcourses would lean towards limb design,but Sergeant says he decided againstspecializing. “It’s been a good choice. I’mvery happy with family medicine.”

He has traveled extensively throughoutCanada, most notably in the north wherefrom 1995 to 1998 he practiced ruralfamily medicine in Inuvik (NWT),Churchill (Manitoba) and Moose Factory,Wawa and Sioux Lookout (Ontario).

At 37, Sergeant is married to Sonia, whois also a doctor, and the couple have threeyoung children. In addition to regularworkouts to keep fit, he relaxes by paintingin oils.

Blame it on a fourth-year designproject. Myles Sergeant, mechanicalengineering undergraduate, and

three other students set themselves the taskof designing an artificial elbow for amputeesin Nicaragua. The catch was that it had to bemade from materials easily available to thepeople of that war-scarred country.

It was not only a great learning experi-ence but may have been the catalyst for hiseventual move into medicine. “Although Ienjoyed engineering at McMaster, I gradu-ally got the sense that engineering was notwhat I wanted to do long-term. I’m more ofa people person than a technical person.”

Following graduation in 1988 with aB.Eng., Sergeant worked for two years atDofasco in Hamilton as an operationstechnology engineer. But as he puts it, “Iwas always looking for ways to make myeducation relate to people.” He enrolled inthe Faculty of Medicine at McMaster and

knee replacements and working with bonefractures. “It’s both a mechanical andmathematical process,” he notes. Becausehis engineering background helps himunderstand how things work, he adds thatthe B.Eng. degree provides him with adifferent perspective from the majoritywho enter medicine. “I definitely think ithas helped me be a better doctor.”

From 1997 to 2002, Adili’s residencywas spent at McMaster’s Health SciencesCentre. He then experienced a one-yearorthopaedic fellowship at the Mayo Clinicin Rochester, specializing in adult lowerextremity reconstruction. Currently he isassistant professor at McMaster’s Facultyof Health Sciences in the orthopaedic divi-sion of the Department of Surgery. He alsosupervised fourth-year biomechanicalthesis projects with mechanical engi-neering undergrads.

Adili, 37, is married to Elisa and thecouple have three children. Family time isspent with the children and their various

sports activities. The much-published researcher is a

member of both the Ontario and CanadianOrthopaedic Associations and the OntarioMedical Association (OMA). He alsomaintains his membership in theAssociation of Professional Engineers ofOntario (APEO).

“Engineering is still a part of me I don’twant to give up.”

One word sums up Anthony Adili’sMac engineering experience –“phenomenal”. A 1989 graduate of

the electrical engineering and managementprogram, Adili says combining businessand engineering is a good move for today’sprofessionals.

“Regardless of your (engineering) spe-cialty, you need some management/busi-ness background. I would recommend it toeverybody.”

The Hamilton native decided on an engi-neering career in part because of his inter-ests in math and science. Nevertheless, heappreciated being able to take more generaland varied courses the first year beforehaving to decide on his field. After gradu-ating, he worked for five years thenreturned to university to study medicine,graduating as an MD in 1997.

He laughs when asked about such aradical change. “I didn’t make a careerchange; it was more of an evolution.” Hisspecialty, orthopaedics, involves hip and

Dr.Anthony Adili – phenomenal

Anthony Adili

Myles Sergeant

Dr. Myles Sergeant – more of a ‘people’person

From engineer to physician!

surgery helped to confirm this interest. “At first, my goal was to do research in

prosthesis,” he says, and his Masters’ thesisdid in fact have a bio-medical slant. Butsince graduating with his M.D. in 1983from McMaster’s Faculty of Medicine, hehas specialized in phlebology, the workingof the veins. He has become quite well-known in medical circles for his treatmentsof varicose veins.

This area of specialty is closely related

to electrical engineering, he maintains.“Both are concerned with pressure, flowand resistance.” Engineering definitely hada positive influence throughout his medicalcareer, he adds. “You are a more criticalthinker. (Engineers) are trained to look forsolutions, for answers, and not to takethings for granted.”

Szarka is a member of the CanadianSociety of Phlebology and since 1998, hasbeen a member of its Board of Directors.He is also the Director of the Hamilton-based Venous Medical Cosmetics clinicwhich specializes in sclerotherapy, amethod of eliminating varicose veins byinjecting a solution to destroy the veinwalls. He also holds a faculty position atMcMaster University as an AssistantClinical Professor.

He is married to Margaret and enjoysthe company of his grown son anddaughter. When not tinkering with newtechnologies and instruments relating tothe workings of veins, he edits holidaydigital pictures into family videos andbuilds remote-controlled airplanes.

When asked which course of study washarder – engineering or medicine – hedoesn’t hesitate. “Engineering was harder.Those math courses are a killer!”


As a youngster, Steven Szarka lovedto build things and always thoughthe would become a scientist. After

visiting Expo in Montreal and seeing alaser beam in action, he built one of hisown. In high school, he was a frequentwinner of science fair awards. Electricalengineering was a natural choice for thisOntario Scholar.

However, a medical career was not yet inthe picture. Hospitals, he recalls, were“gross” and filled with that pervasivehospital smell that most children find hardto deal with, even frightening.

Engineering was a more “practical” choiceand McMaster Faculty of Engineering was alogical option, since his family was living inBrantford at the time. The University’s engi-neering courses in the 1970’s were difficultand involved a lot of hard work, he says.Despite this, he was on the Dean’s HonourRole and received his B.Eng in computer andelectrical engineering in 1977, and a M.Eng.degree in 1980.

It was while working on his Masters thatSzarka took some biomedical engineeringcourses during his final year. Suddenly herealized engineering and medicine couldbe combined to make an interesting career.An in-class viewing of a film on open heart

Dr. Steven Szarka – it all began with biomedics

Dr. Steven Szarka

Dr. Laura Stover – cardiothoracic anesthesiologist

Dr. Laura Stover

After graduating summa cum laudefrom McMaster’s Engineering andManagement Program in 1992,

Laura Stover joined Ontario Hydro as anassistant system planning engineer. Soonhowever, other horizons beckoned and sheundertook graduate studies at the Instituteof Biomedical Engineering at theUniversity of Toronto, graduating with aMaster of Applied Science in electricalengineering in 1995. An enthusiasm forphysiology, discovered during her graduatecoursework, led her to consider studyingmedicine. She returned to Hamilton,obtained her medical degree in 1998, andbegan specialist training in anesthesia. Shepassed her anesthesia certification exami-nations in June 2003.

Stover is currently completing a fellow-ship in cardiothoracic anesthesia at theUniversity of Washington in Seattle.

Anesthesia as a medical specialty, sheexplains, involves the assessment and careof patients requiring surgical procedures.The provision of life support duringsurgery and the treatment of pain are two ofthe most important roles of the anesthesi-ologist. Cardiothoracic anesthesia as asubspecialty involves care of patientsrequiring surgical procedures on the heartand/or lungs. Her typical caseload includespatients having coronary bypass surgery,heart valve surgery, surgery for lungcancer, and surgery for heart and lungtransplantation.

Technology plays an important role inthe monitoring of patients under anes-thesia. In keeping with her bioengineeringbackground, Stover is interested in thedevices used in her work. One example ofthe monitoring technology used in this field


for the role he played in organizing the1992 UN Conference on Environment andDevelopment in Rio de Janeiro (EarthSummit), where he served as Secretary-

We are truly honoured to haveMaurice Strong present the 20thannual public Hodgins Lecture

on March 11th, 2004 at McMasterUniversity.

Maurice F. Strong, Senior Advisor to theSecretary-General and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, is specialenvoy to North Korea. He is President ofthe Council, University for Peace, affili-ated with the United Nations. He is one ofthe world’s most influential political andenvironmental activist.

Mr. Strong’s career began in the oilindustry. He worked for Dome Petroleumand re-built Ajax Petroleum into theCanadian Industrial Gas and Oil Co. In 1975,Prime Minister Trudeau made Strong thepresident of the state-owned gas company,Petro-Canada. Mr. Strong is the formerPresident, Chairman and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Ontario Hydro as well as formerPresident of Power Corporation of Canada.

Mr. Strong is perhaps most well-known


The Honourable Maurice F. Strong PresentsThe 20th Hodgins Lecture – March 2004

General. He organized the original EarthSummit in 1972 in Stockholm.

In April of 2004, Mr. Strong will behonoured with the Public Welfare Medal,awarded by the National Academy ofSciences, a prestigious award given forthe first time in its 89-year history to anon-American. “He is an idealist who cantranslate vision into action and is truly acitizen of the world,” said academy pres-ident Bruce Alberts. He was chosen forhis leadership of global conferences thatbecame the basis for international envi-ronmental negotiations.

The Hodgins Lecture commemoratesMcMaster’s first Dean of Engineering,Dr. J.W. Hodgins, who died in 1983. Inrecognition of the breadth of Dr.Hodgins’ interests and contributions, thefocus of the Lectureship is “the engineerin society”.

If you wish further details please contactTerry Milson at 905.525.9140 extension27391 or email: [email protected].

Maurice Strong

BioEngineering & Engineering Practice Building Campaigncontinued from page 5

have the vision, commitment and innova-tion to bridge that gap today.

The McMaster School of EngineeringPractice (MSEP) will comprise three newresearch and academic centres: Engi-neering Entrepreneurship and Innovation,Engineering and Public Policy, andEngineering Design.

The three centres aim to provide a muchneeded interdisciplinary education that isinformed by engineering problem-solvingexpertise. Their principal activity will be tooffer professional education at the Master’sdegree level, the programs of which willcomplement the undergraduate engi-neering programs in Engineering andManagement, Engineering and Society,and the existing design curriculum.

Each centre will emphasize interdisci-plinary education and research in its areaof specialization. Together, they will offera dynamic, integrated learning experiencefor undergraduate and graduate students of

all engineering disciplines. The Faculty ofEngineering has established partnershipswith the Faculties of Business and SocialSciences. This platform of true, interdisci-plinary knowledge will form the educa-tional programs of the MSEP. Theseprograms will be unique in Canada,compete favorably with existing interna-tional research centres, and will attract thebest faculty and students to McMaster’sFaculty of Engineering.

ContributingAs a McMaster alumnus, you will know

by experience that the University’s goal isto prepare students to be among the intel-lectual, cultural, scientific and professionalleaders of tomorrow. McMaster does thisby providing a learning experience thatbuilds on the pioneering, inquiry-basedapproach that distinguishes McMasterfrom other leading research universities.

Among those who give back to Mac, our

Engineering alumni show strong supportfor their alma mater through excellentrepresentation. You care about the future ofEngineering at McMaster, and it shows.Each gift is a testimonial of support forwhich we are very grateful.• 14% of engineering alumni gave a gift to

McMaster in 2002 • 44% of engineering alumni have given

at least onceTo continue to offer the best possible

education to those who come after us, wecannot rest on past successes. Gifts ofevery size are important to achieving ourgoals. With your help, our Faculty willremain among the very best in Canada andour alumni will continue to be leaders andsignificant contributors internationally andclose to home.

Please support McMaster Engineering.To give contact: Terry Milson, FacultyAdvancement Officer at 905.525.9140 ext.27391 or email: [email protected].


New Faculty MembersInstitute of Science in India. Dr. Kumar wenton to complete a second Ph.D. degree inCommunication Engineering, specifically inhigh-speed fiber-optic communication fromOsaka University in Japan. His research inter-ests are fiber-optic communication andphotonic devices and systems for applicationsin communication networks. When not hardat work in the Communications ResearchLaboratory, Dr. Kumar enjoys tennis, karateand classical music.

Dr. Shahin Sirouspour joined the ECEDepartment in April 2003. He received hisB.Sc (1995) and M.Sc. (1997) from SharifUniversity of Technology (Iran), and his

Ph.D. (2003) from theUniversity of BritishColumbia, all in electricalengineering. Dr. Sirous-pour’s research interestsare in the broad areas ofrobotics and control sys-tems. These include tele-operation control, appli-cation of sensor fusion and managementto robotic systems, medical robotics, andadvanced control for robot manipulators.He is a very welcomed asset to thedepartment, particularly at this time aswe build upon our strength in biomedicalengineering.

Chemical EngineeringDr. Kim Jones joinedthe department in July,2003. She recently com-pleted her Ph.D. from theUniversity of Toronto inBiomedical Engineering.She also holds an M.Sc.from the University ofGuelph in Plant Agriculture(1987) and a B.A.Sc. from the Universityof Waterloo in Chemical Engineering(1995). Kim will be a welcome addition toour Chemical and Bioengineering program.Her research interests are in tissue engi-neering, regenerative medicine, immune andinflammatory responses to biomaterials.

Electrical & ComputerEngineeringDr. Steve Hranilovicjoined the department inSeptember 2003. Dr. Hrani-lovic received the B.A.Sc.degree with honours inelectrical engineering fromthe University of Waterlooin 1997 and the M.A.Sc.and Ph.D. degrees from theUniversity of Toronto in 1999 and 2003respectively. His research interests are in theareas of communication and informationtheory applied to the design and implemen-tation of communications algorithms forwireless optical channels. More specifically,he is interested in the design of optical inten-sity modulation, coding, spatio-temporalcoding on MIMO optical channels, opticalchannel capacity well as in the implementa-tion of experimental wireless optical chan-nels to verify modem designs.

Dr. Shiva Kumar joinedour department in July,2003, from Corning Incor-porated located in Corning,New York. Dr. Kumarreceived a B.S. in Elec-tronics and Communi-cation Engineering fromMysore University, India,and both a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in ElectricalCommunication Engineering from the Indian

Shiva Kumar

Kim Jones

Steve Hranilovic

Shahin Sirouspour

Engineering Advisory Board

Dr. Doug H. Barber (Chair)Gennum Corporation (retired)

Dr. Andrew BenedekCEO & Chairman of the BoardZenon Environment Inc.

Mr. Walter BoothChairman & CEOTimberland Equipment Limited

Ms. Maryann CombsGeneral Director of Engineering & Product Planning, GM

Mr. Bob CrowUniversity & Government RelationsResearch in Motion Limited

Mr. Mike FieldingCEO, StrataFlex

Dr. David J. LitsterProfessor, Department of PhysicsMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Mr. Norm LockingtonVice President, Technology, Dofasco Inc.

Mr. Joe NgPresident, JNE Consulting Limited

Mr. Michael PleyPresident, COM DEV Space

Dr. John ReidStrategy & Business Development JDS Uniphase

Mr. Dietmar ReinerChief Information OfficerOntario Power Generation

Dr. Claudine SimsonCorporate Vice President & ChiefTechnology Officer, Motorola Inc.

Mr. Vince SmithPresident & CEO, Division ManagerDow Chemical Canada

Dr. Norman TomsChief Technical Officer, Sierra Wireless

Dr. Joe WrightPresident & CEO, Pulp and PaperResearch Institute of Canada

The Faculty of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board, established in early 2002, wasformed to provide the Dean with informed opinion. It includes forward-thinking, expe-rienced university graduates who act as a bridge from today’s students to future possi-bilities. Currently, sixteen alumni and friends serve on the Board which meets twice ayear, in the spring and fall, to share their experience and wisdom with the Dean.

“Meeting with the Board has been a stimulating experience,” says chairman of theDean’s Advisory Board, Doug Barber. “The members come to make a contribution.They are deeply committed to helping the Faculty achieve excellence in new initiativesor in changes in engineering teaching or in research programs. They want the studentsin engineering programs to experience a superior learning environment.”

Members include:


Departmental newsbriefsSakai, of Japan, as president during2005-2007. The Polymer ProcessingSociety is an international organiza-tion of university professors andresearch and process engineersinvolved in the production of poly-mers used in the automotive, pack-aging and housing industry. There arePPS members in nearly 50 countriesaround the world. During Dr.Vlachopoulos’ terms of office,conferences are being planned inUSA, Korea, Brazil, Germany,Canada, Singapore, South Africa,Poland and China.

Civil Engineering

In December 2003, the American Societyof Testing and Materials (ASTM) presentedDr. Ahmad Hamid and his co-authors Dr.Hany Elshafie and Dr. El-sayed Nasr withthe 2003 Alan H. Yorkdale Memorial Awardfor the paper “Strength and Stiffness ofMasonry Shear-Walls with Openings”. Theaward recognizes the most outstandingEnglish-language paper dealing with manu-factured masonry units published betweenJuly 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003. ProfessorHamid’s paper was selected from over 230peer-reviewed papers published world-wideduring that time period.

Electrical & ComputerEngineering

The Department congratulates ColinCampbell, Professor Emeritus, whorecently was awarded the Will PortnoyPrize by the IEEE Industry ApplicationsSociety for best paper. Titled “Technologyfor integrated RF-EMI transmission linefilters for integrated power electronicmodules”, the paper was co-authored byP.J Wolmarans, J.D. Van Wyk and J.D. VanWyk Jr. It seems that Colin has kepthimself just as active and with the sameamazing standard of excellence in hisretirement!

In his capacity as the past president ofIEEE, Professor Ray Findlay was inSalvan, Switzerland in September to inau-gurate a plaque commemorating the first

known experiments by Marconi whichdemonstrated that the reception of wire-less signals could be accomplished withouta direct line of sight. The plaque isinstalled on a rock where in 1895 Marconisent a message further than a kilometreaway. Attending the ceremonies werePascal Couchepin, President ofSwitzerland, the Princess Elettra Marconi-Giovanelliand (Marconi’s daughter), theAmbassador of Italy, the Consul Generaland the Mayor of Salvan.

Dr J.W. Bandler, professor emeritus,has been selected to receive the 2004Microwave Application Award of the IEEEMicrowave Theory and Techniques Society(MTT-S) for “application of optimizationtechnology, design with tolerances andyield-driven design to microwave devices,circuits and systems.” This award recog-nizes an individual or a team for anoutstanding application of microwavetheory and techniques that has been put intopractice at least 10 years before the awardis given. The award consists of a recogni-tion plaque and an honorarium of US$1,500. The award will be conferred at theannual Society Awards Banquet to be heldduring the International Microwave Sym-posium in the week of June 6-11, 2004, inFort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Jamal Deen was elected a Fellow ofthe Institute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers (IEEE) for his scholarly contri-butions to modeling, noise and parameterextraction in silicon transistors and highspeed photodetectors. This recognizes hisresearch contributions in microelectronicsand optoelectronics that are documented

Chemical Engineering

PROTEIN BIOSEPARATIONUSING ULTRAFILTRATIONTheory, Applications andNew DevelopmentsRaja Ghosh (McMaster University, Canada)Imperial College Press. ISBN: 1860943179

Ultrafiltration is a pressure-driven,membrane-based separa-tion process, which isused for a range of appli-cations: from processingof biological macromol-ecules such as proteinsand nucleic acids towastewater treatment. Ithas significant advan-tages over competingseparation technologies. Biotechnologyand food processing are fast emerging asmajor application areas for ultrafiltration.This book focuses primarily on proteinbioseparation using ultrafiltration which hasrelevance in both these areas.

Readership: Graduate students, aca-demics and researchers in biotechnology,biochemistry, bioengineering and chemicalengineering.

Dr. Andy Hrymak presented the 2003Bayer Lecture Series at Carnegie MellonUniversity in September. The lecture seriesis given by speakers of international recog-nition on state-of-the-art research work inthe area of Process Systems Engineering.Hrymak’s talk was entitled, “ComputationalTransport Phenomena and Optimization inMaterials Processing”.

Congratulations to Gord Slater on his20 years of service to ChemicalEngineering. Gord is the Department’sTechnical Services Coordinator. Congratu-lations also to Lynn Falkiner on her 25years of service to McMaster. Lynn workedin the Geology Department before joiningChemical Engineering as DepartmentalSecretary in 2000.

Professor John Vlachopoulos wasrecently voted president-elect of thePolymer Processing Society (PPS) for theyears 2003-2005. He will succeed Dr. T.

Dr. Ray Findlay, Professor Electrical and ComputerEngineering (right) is greeted by Princess ElettraMarconi Giovanelli, the Ambassador of Italy and Mr.Pascal Couchepin, President of Switzerland.


Xiaolin Wu

in the scholarly literature (278 papers ofwhich 47 are invited, 14 invited book chap-ters, 10 edited books/conference proceed-ings and 6 patents).

Professors Chih-Hung (James) Chenand M. Jamal Deen recently won the BestInvited Paper Award from the premierinternational integrated circuits conference,the IEEE Custom Integrated CircuitsConference (CICC), for the year 2002. Theaward was presented to them at the 2003CICC in San Jose, California on Monday22 September 2003 and it was for theirinvited paper titled “MOSFET Modelingfor Low-Noise RF Circuit Design”.

The Department ex-tends congratulations toDr. Xiaolin Wu who isa world expert in videocompression. He hasreceived final approvalfor his NSERC Indus-trial Research Chair inDigital Cinema.

Engineering Physics

The Department is pleased to congratu-late Dr. Andy Knights on receiving anaward of $120,000 from CFI-NewOpportunities. The grant will be used tobuild critical infrastructure for his research

program in silicon-based highly integratedoptical components.

The Photonics Seminar Series, held inthe fall of 2003 and jointly organized byEngineering Physics, Ontario PhotonicsConsortium (OPC), Centre for Electro-photonics and Materials Devices (CEMD)and Photonics Research Ontario (PRO),welcomed two well-known researchers:Dr. J. Misiewicz, Wroclaw University ofTechnology and Dr. Kenton White,Bookham Technology. A workshop on“Optical Fiber Sensors and theirApplications”, hosted jointly by PRO, theDepartment of Engineering Physics andOPC, was held here at McMasterUniversity in October 2003. There were115 attendees including participants fromseveral overseas countries.

Materials Science &Engineering

The Department is pleased to announcethat David Embury will be the 2005Edward DeMille Campbell MemorialLecturer for ASM International. The lecturewill be delivered at ASM International’sAnnual Meeting during the week ofOctober 3, 2005. Each lecturer is chosenon the basis of high stature and achieve-ment in the field of materials science and

Three New EngineeringPrograms Approved by Senate

Students of a new ProfessionalMaster’s Program in Engineeringand Public Policy will acquire an

enhanced understanding of public policyand its effects on technological, socialand ecological systems. The program wasdeveloped to reflect the fact that intoday’s complex world, engineers arecalled upon to design technical systemsthat provide goods and services to societyin a safe, efficient and environmentallysound manner.

Advanced engineering studies, innova-tion and entrepreneurial skills develop-ment and engineering enterprise, are thethree components of a new Master’sProgram in Engineering in Entre-preneurship and Innovation. Studentstaking this program will graduate with

leading-edge engineering skills combinedwith business know-how. An engineeringenterprise project will run throughout theentire study period and will result in botha business and technical plan for an engi-neering prototype project, with an identi-fied customer base and a plan outliningthe way to commercialization.

Offered through the engineeringdepartments of McMaster, Queen’sUniversity, the University of Toronto, theUniversity of Waterloo and theUniversity of Western Ontario, a newMaster’s Program in Nuclear Engi-neering was prompted by the UniversityNetwork of Excellence in NuclearEngineering. The self-funded, full-costrecovery program combines nuclearscience with technology.

is transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)a method of looking at the heart using anultrasound probe inserted into the esoph-agus/stomach. Using TEE, the anesthesi-ologist can assess the structure andperformance of the heart, including muscleand valves, during surgery.

“My professional interests include trans-esophageal echocardiography, medicaleducation and anesthesia simulators,” Stoveradds. She is involved in the anesthesia simu-lator program at the University ofWashington. The simulator, she explains,“allows us to expose anesthesia residents toa range of critical events that occur so infre-quently in actual practice that they – the resi-dents – may not actually experience themduring their years as residents.” Themanikin-based system simulates the patientand operating room environment withconvincing realism. “Many sweat-soakedresidents attest to this realism after a simu-lator session,” she adds with a smile.

She is a member of the AmericanSociety of Anesthesiologists and theCanadian Anesthesiologists’ Society and isa Fellow of the Royal College ofPhysicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Stover is a former Air Force Reserveofficer who holds both glider and privatepilot licenses. She enjoys a busy life “inmy spare time.” Her down time activitiesinclude mountain biking, kayaking, surfingand running. She is looking forward to theday when she will have the finances - andtime - to fly again.

For now, she is enjoying living in thesame city as her twin sister and family. Sheis unsure just what will transpire when hercurrent fellowship is completed in June2004. “Who knows?” she says. “I’m lookingat my options now.”

Dr. Stover profilecontinued from page 13

engineering. The objectives of the memoriallecture are: to bring information onadvanced materials science and engineeringresearch or development to the attention ofmembers, and to honor generally recog-nized achievements in materials science andengineering research of the highest order.Prof. Embury is only the third Canadian towin this prestigious honor. We all join incongratulating him!

A Champion Scholar and Wrestler


Unable to capture the top prize in thisyear’s U.S.-based solar car race, theUniversity’s Solar Car Team caught theattention of one local resident who becameso enthused, he promptly made a financialdonation.

After meeting business manager TammyHwang and two members of this year’s team,Les Jarrett, Soc Sci ’71, contacted AlumniAdvancement to say he feels this projectneeds the support of alumni. “My suggestionis that we get the solar car project team to doa ‘show and tell’ (presentation) because Iknow that in listening to the young people,they caught my attention. Perhaps we canalso make a pitch to our alumni ... to supportthis group (financially).”

Fireball II and its team of 10 headed byproject leader Claire Braden was unable tocomplete the 220 km qualification race atEvanston, Illinois in July. As a result, itcould not compete in the American SolarCar Challenge’s 10-day, 3,700 km racefrom Chicago to Los Angeles. [see article,MacEngineer Fall 2003.]

The Mac Solar Car Team now has itssights on the 2005 ASC race. Alumniwishing to assist McMaster’s solar carproject can send donations to Rm. 261,JHE, in care of Ms. Hwang.

Solar CarProject IgnitesAlumnusResponse

and compete with any otherfaculty by winning overall at the McMaster StudentUnion Faculty Olympics, aUniversity-wide competitionagainst other Faculties. Engi-neering won Gold in Soccerand Academic Pursuit, andSilver in Ultimate Frisbee,Billiards, Volleyball, Basket-ball, Ping Pong and Water polo.

Our Semi-Annual GeneralMeeting presented new initia-

tives, such as an Accountability sessionfrom the Executive Committee andProductions. Our Teams – McMasterFormula Racing Team, Concrete Tobogganand Solar Car – presented their collabora-tive plans for creating competitive teamsfor upcoming events.

Also, we held the Sixth Annual MacLab(McMaster Laboratory Advancement

McMaster Engineering Society news

What a great year it’sbeen so far. I’mproud to say that

the McMaster EngineeringSociety has been running verysmoothly thanks to the contri-bution of all our councilmembers. Their hard work hasobviously paid off in a strongcouncil this year. I am proud tosay that the year got off to agreat start and things will onlyget better.

We held an excellent Welcome Week,introducing another 800 students toEngineering at McMaster. The incomingstudents proved to have the same spiritand vigor as those of previous years, andare a great addition to the Engineeringstudent body.

Earlier this year, Engineering studentsproved that they can handle any challenge

A Message from the President of MES

Josh Wong

Chemical engineering Lulu Bursztyn, who admits she choseengineering because it is challenging, was the recipient of theChancellor’s Gold Medal at the fall convocation on November14, 2003. The medal is awarded to an undergraduate student inhis or her final year of study who ranks highest in scholarship,leadership and influence.

Bursztyn, 21, who has made the Dean’s Honours List everyyear, is in her fifth year at Mac because she did a 12-monthinternship at Dofasco. She hopes to pursue post-graduatestudies and one day be a university professor.

She has received many awards and scholarships during hercourse of study at McMaster. In addition to distinguishing herself

academically, she has realized successes in her favourite sport – wrestling. In November,she placed first in the 2003 McMaster Invitational competition in the 65-kilogram category.

Bursztyn took up wrestling in high school. “There’s no other sport like it,” she says.“It’s just so intense – it’s very aggressive.” She practices five or six times a week andattends tournaments across the country.

The multi-lingual student, who was born in Zimbabwe, also enjoys basketball andsoccer, and has tried skydiving and scuba diving. She is actively involved in student lifeas well and in October 2003, she helped organize a five-day conference at McMaster thatattracted 450 chemical engineering students from across Canada. She is a member of theMcMaster Engineering Society, the Chemical Engineering Club and the RedsuitsOrientation Committee.

Lulu Bursztyn

Benefaction) Extravaganza dinner onThursday November 6th, 2003. I had thehonour of hosting the event as emcee. Ourkeynote speaker was Mr. Vince Smith,McMaster engineering graduate inChemical Engineering, and President andCEO of Dow Chemical Canada Inc. Other



The partners admit that designing theclock was not easy. Their efforts werefinally successful and, as a bonus, thedesign won second prize at the CanadianSociety for Mechanical Engineering designcompetition in May 2003, netting the group$1,500.

In addition to needing a project for theirthesis, the students say they were alsolooking for a way to give something backto the University. “We all had such a greatexperience over our five-year degree, and

Mechanical engineering graduatesPatrick Burton, Braden Kurczak,Michael Paddags and Peter

Whitred have donated a unique gift to theUniversity – an electrically-powered clockin the shape of the engineer’s iron ring. Theshape is symbolic of the traditional ringworn by engineers to remind them of theirethical obligations to society.

Originally part of their final year thesisproject, the 1.5 metre-high clock sits atopthe door frame of the north entrance to thestudent centre, overlooking the food court.Its two numbered stainless steel rings,which encircle a shield emblazoned withthe McMaster coat of arms, rotate to markthe changing hours.

In order to complete the project, thestudents designed the clock, raised over$15,000 and obtained donations fromseveral companies including Dofasco,which donated the steel, and the McMasterManufacturing Research Institute, whichdonated labour. Each of the rings on theclock is one meter in diameter and weighsover 100 kg. With volunteer labour anddonated supplies factored in, the clock’sestimated value is about $100,000.

Engineering GraduatesLeave Distinctive Legacy

Clock designers (from left to right): BradenKurczak, Patrick Burton, Peter Whitred andMichael Paddags.

The Iron Ring Clock presides proudly over the food court in the new Student Centre.

“In 20 to 30 years tocome, students will look

up at this clock andadmire its beauty and

workmanship.”

Venture Engineering and Science isproud to present a new andexciting addition to our program.

The Venture Kids Club was created in2003 by two dedicated engineering andscience students to give kids an opportu-nity to explore Venture year round. Theobjective was to create a kids program thateducated children about the ideals ofscience, engineering and technology in afun, interactive club environment.

The VK Club is held for two 8-weeksessions during the school year, with startdates in October and January. The Club,which meets each week on Saturday morn-ings in JHE from 9 am to 12 noon, has beena huge hit with the grade 4 to 6 members.For example, Session One VK Clubmembers (fall 2003) visited the McMasterPlanetarium, received a Solar Car and St.John Ambulance demonstration, and muchmore. Every week, the kids are activelyinvolved in hands-on activities such asdissection or motorized boat building,which encourage them to discover engi-

neering and science on their own. Session Two, which begins January 17,

2004, is shaping up to be close to full capacitysince almost all of the first session membersare returning for the Session’s brand newcurriculum! The excitement and enthusiasmshown has raised thoughts of expanding ourprogram into two classroom sessions nextyear. The interest from both instructors andchildren has been overwhelming!

For more information and registrationdetails, check out the VK Club website athttp://venture.mcmaster.ca/vk.

The Venture Kids Club is a Hit!

we love McMaster and engineering,” saysWhitred.

Peter Smith, Associate Dean of Engi-neering, believes the clock will become asymbol of McMaster. “In 20 to 30 years tocome, students will look up at this clockand admire its beauty and workmanship.”

Tim Nye, assistant professor of mechan-ical engineering and the students’ projectsupervisor, says he is very proud of theteam. “They have done something tobenefit McMaster University and beautifythe campus.”


An Evening withStephen ElopDate: February 26, 2004Time: 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Place: Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Territories Room

Y 0 U A R E I N V I T E D A S O U R G U E S T T O A T T E N D . . . .

M C M A S T E RE N G I N E E R I N GC O N N E C T I O N

Computer Engineering Management ‘86

Executive Vice-President, World-wide Field OperationsDivision of Macromedia Inc., San Francisco

Stephen Elop speaks on Macromedia....."At Macromedia, we are motivated by the belief that great experiencesbuild great business. Macromedia provides the industry-leading softwarethat empowers web developers and designers to create and deliver thoseeffective, compelling, and memorable experiences."

Stephen compares his Macromedia experience to that of his school days at McMaster University. "One of the best McMaster experiences,"saysStephen Elop, "was the opportunity to work on a part-time basis underformer Dean of Engineering, Dr. Art Heidebrecht." The work includedpreparing and presenting a business plan and following through on theUniversity's first campus-wide Ethernet installation.

"This was fantastic training for the need to take a business approach tocomplex technical problems in the world at large," he says. "Dr. Heidebrchthad the single most profound impact on my future in the business world."Macromedia products like Dreamweaver and Flash, empower designers tothink outside of the box.

Join Stephen Elop for an evening of insight, innovation and inspiration.

EVENT SPONSORED BY THE FACULT Y OF ENGINEERING

For more information contact: Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext.24906 Fax: (905) 546-5492email: [email protected]

http://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni/

Donations Appreciated If you wish tomake a donation in support of this eventplease contact us. Donors who contribute$100 or more will be recognized in the nextissue of the MacEngineer distributed to allof our alumni, industry and friends. All donations will receive a tax receipt.


Change of address card:

Name:_______________________________________________________________________________

Grad Yr. & Dept.: _____________________________________________________________________

New Address: _________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________ Fax: ________________________________________

Postal Code: __________________ E-mail:_________________________________________________

Comments: (present occupation, recent accomplishments ie: awards, recognitions).

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Any comments provided will be included in the next issue.

Engineering Career Services

Engineering Career Services (ECS)works hard to coordinate events thatoffer students opportunities to

interact with employers. Some of oursessions have focused on employment;others have helped students gain a betterunderstanding of just what it is that engi-neers do. Our goal is to bring even moreemployers to campus. As Alumni, you canhelp students in two distinct ways just byvisiting your alma mater.

First, you can let students know aboutyour company. Information about thecompany’s goals, its successes and whatprojects are in the works will help studentsmake informed decisions in their quest foremployment. It will also help yourcompany build a reputation on campus asan employer of choice. This reputation willensure that you receive applications fromthe best and the brightest Mac has to offer.

Secondly, you are actual proof thatMcMaster graduates go on to greatsuccesses in all sectors of industry!Graduates often feel overwhelmed at thechoices that lay ahead of them. By tellingstudents about your career path andpersonal success story, you will be a livingexample of how life after graduationworks. Students love nothing more than totalk to McMaster graduates workingsuccessfully in their chosen fields.

If you would like to give back to theUniversity by helping out McMaster engi-neering students, please contact us aboutattending our networking breakfasts,resume workshops or information sessions.

New InitiativesOne of the main goals of ECS is to

ensure that students compliment theiracademics by graduating with work expe-rience in their field of study. This is acontinuous goal and ECS is proud that eachyear we are able to help more students gainwork experience.

Now we are expanding our Under-graduate Research Opportunities Program(UROP) to research and developmentdepartments of industry.

UROP provides paid summer employ-ment opportunities for 1st and 2nd year

students who would like to work in aresearch-oriented environment both oncampus and in industry.

The goal of the program is threefold: tooffer students insight into graduate workand to assist with future career planning; toenhance the relationship between students,professors, research staff and industry; andto provide exposure to research environ-ments generally only experienced by grad-uate students.

McMaster is the only university inCanada to offer a program of this kind andit has been a huge success. In the first yearECS had 20 positions and in 2003 – onlyUROP’s second year in existence – wemore than doubled that number to 50.

Students have shown great enthusiasmfor this program and we currently havemore students then positions. By openingup the program to industry, we are hopingto offer more students the chance to partic-ipate as well as supply companies with aunique service – enthusiastic, intelligentstudents who want to participate in theresearch field.

To find out how your company canparticipate in UROP, or for more informa-tion about our Internship or Coopprograms, please contact Anne Markey,Engineering Career Services Manager,at 905-525-9140 x22571 or visit theEngineering Career Services website atwww.eng.mcmaster/ecs.

and disadvantages, he notes. “On the onehand, you know your destiny and don’tbecome confused by questions of whichdirection to take. However, you don’t getan opportunity to see or learn from othercompanies.”

Either way, he says, engineers ingeneral come out of university withabilities that will open up a variety ofwonderful opportunities. “Engineeringcourses train you in the thinking process.

You become very disciplined.”Bot, who also has a private pilot’s

license, is married to McMaster gradMarina Mercanti (B.Comm. ’86) and theyhave three children, Michael, Christopherand Kassandra. Roy’s brother Steve, alsoa civil engineer, is Vice President andsister Nancy with her bachelor ofeconomics is executive administrator ofthe company – which is now on it’ssecond generation.

Roy Bot profilecontinued from page 11

MacChemEngKatotakis, Stamos ’69: Is the founderand President of Toronto-based FinancialModels Co. Inc, a publicly-owned corpora-tion traded on the TSE, that is involved inbusiness services and software for investmentcompanies. His company employs some 500people and has offices in Canada, the UnitedStates and the United Kingdom, with annualrevenues of $70 million. Stamos can bereached at: [email protected].

Park, Julian M.Eng. ’70: Time sure hasflown since I arrived in Hamilton fromMelbourne is 1968! I have been withHoneywell for almost 10 years, starting inCalgary and moving to Phoenix 4 yearsago. I’m currently the Program Director forour new DCS offering. We love the city; theweather is great once your blood thinsout. Our biggest problem was keeping thepool below 90°F! Phoenix is a great city: allmajor sports teams are covered and it’swithin driving distance of the Californiawineries we love to visit. Housing is lessexpensive here than on Vancouver Island,which is where we plan to retire. Our childrenare living in Calgary and Winnipeg, but wesee them more often than when we lived inToronto! E-Mail: [email protected]

Rincon, Alberto ’99 (PhD): My newaddress is: 2440 Sunflower Lane, Beaumont,

Tx, 77713, USA. At the present time, I holdthe position of Regional Manager for LatinAmerica, Spain and Portugal at CloerenInc., the world largest manufacturer of flatextrusion dies and coextrusion feedblocksfor the plastics processing industry. e-mail:[email protected]

MacCivEngGemmell, Greg ’01: I am working forRichardson Engineering Ltd., a small tomedium sized consulting firm that specializesin Land Development in my hometown ofBarrie, as a Project Manager. I recentlybecame a partner with the firm and lookforward to the new opportunities that thispresents. I recently had the opportunity to hirea Mac Grad to help in our stormwater group.

Panagiotakopoulos, Christos D. ’99:Working for the Ministry of National Defensein Greece, Department of EnvironmentalProtection of the Hellenic Army General Staffsince March 2002. Current address: 29Andromachis St., 17564, Palaio Faliro,Greece. E-mail: [email protected].

MacCompEngQuick, Philip ’96: I am currently workingat a German face recognition company afterfinally finishing my PhD at Mac. E-mail:[email protected]


Alumni GrapevineHey Alumni! Have you moved, taken a new job,

got something you would like to say, any other news? We would like to hear from you.Contact Carm Vespi Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 24906, E-Mail [email protected]

To: Ms. Carm VespiManaging EditorThe MacEngineerFaculty of EngineeringJohn Hodgins Building, Room A 201DMcMaster UniversityHamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 24906 Fax: (905) 546-5492E-mail: [email protected]

MacElEngChung, Paul ’93 (B.Eng.), ’95 (M.Eng):Married to Susie Lu in September 1999. Theyare proud to announce the birth of their firstchild, Katelyn Elizabeth, born on August 5,2003 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton andweighing in at 8 lbs and 6 oz. Paul met Susieafter she graduated from Pharmacy at theUniversity of Toronto. Susie works as aPharmacist and was a former Associate/Owner for Shoppers Drug Mart and Paulworks as a Management Consultant for theChicago office of BearingPoint (formerlyknown as KPMG Consulting). They live in Oakville and can be reached [email protected].

Lee, Michael, ’83: Since graduating, I havemoved many times and finally ended up inHong Kong. I have lost all my contacts atMac and I want to get back into the circuit.Here is my updated info: 55 Palm Drive,Redhill Peninsula, Tai Tam, Hong [email protected]. Currently I work asco-CEO at Silver Manufactory Holdings.(www.silver.com.hk)

MacMechEngHosler, Karen ’92: Karen and Brian arethrilled to announce the birth of their twins,Nathan and Paige, in August 2003. All iswell, but sleep is a rare commodity now!

Kuhne, Brad ’01: I am now living inCalgary and own cowboy boots and a hat!Since May 2003, I’ve been working forHitachi as Project Engineer in power genera-tion sales and service. I came to Calgary inthe summer of 2002 to build a power plant forSiemens Westinghouse, but I left that job inJanuary to get off the road and start a new lifein Calgary. My Calgary girlfriend Cathyloves to see me in my cowboy [email protected]

Gregoriou(McDonald),Iris Chemical &Mgt. ’97. congratu-lations to Iris whogot married onSeptember 27 at theAncaster Old Mill.She still works atAccenture and livesin Mississauga.

MacMechEng& MgmtPrice, Richard ’94: Living in Cleveland,Ohio for the past 6 years and working in thearea of marketing. I have worked for severalindustrial companies and found my engi-neering and business education invaluable. Irecently started a new job at Tremco Inc., amanufacturer of roofing and weather-proofing materials. My current responsibili-ties are to lead the marketing activities forthe Roofing and Building MaintenanceDivision. I have been married to Sarah for 5 years and we are the proud parents of ourfirst child, Madeline Ruth, born August 14thjust before the big blackout. I can be reachedat [email protected].

Tehrani, Cyrus ’98: Congratulations onnew baby boy.

Yust, Andrea ’03: Things are going reallywell at work. I love Zenon. Right now I’mworking in the international division as an

assistant sales manager for the Cyprus,Turkey and South African sales areas. I’vehad to learn a lot really fast, but I’m enjoyingit. I might actually get to go on my first busi-ness trip soon – probably to Cyprus. Also,I’ve started my MBA.

MacEngPhys& MgmtHill, Ted ’90, Nancy (Burham) Hill’90: Both still working at Data Works. Livingin California. They have a new addition to thefamily (Sarah) who is now 13 months.

OtherGoldstein, Haim ’82: ConstructionManager for IKEA was relocated to Japan inAugust 2003 to look after the construction ofthe first Japanese IKEA store, slated to openin 2005. Kids Jeremy and Jasmin attend anAmerican school in Tokyo, while wife Kim(Social Work, 1982) takes tai chi and enjoysshopping and the outdoors.

Vlahovic, Ann-Marie (Jakopin) ’94:Peter and I are thrilled to announce the arrivalof Maja Vlahovic, born on July 1st, 2003,Canada Day, at 10:15 p.m. EST, weighing 7lbs. 4 oz., and a full 20 inches – our own bitof fireworks!. Mom & Dad are delighted withtheir little girl. E-mail:. [email protected]

MacMetEngTrefzger, Roger ’81: Spouse DeborahPhilips and daughter Emma (born 1997) arehappy to announce the birth of Niall Jeremyon June 23rd, 2003 at St. Joseph’s Hospital inLondon, ON. Roger is Chief Metallurgist atGKN Sinter Metals in St. Thomas (for past 8years). The family lives in London. Homeemail [email protected].

MacChemEng&MgmtGagne, Melissa (Missy) ’97: I am nowteaching math in Delhi and loving it. I gotmarried earlier this year so I’m now MelissaO’Donnell.

Gaspari, Jerome ’01 and Gaspari(Crowley), Janine ’03: Married on July19, 2003 in Richmond, they are now livingand working in Sarnia for Shell Canada andImperial Oil Ltd.


TheMacEngineerTheMacEngineerThe MacEngineer is printed and produced by

Managing Editor: Carm Vespi,Engineering Alumni Officer

Editorial Committee: Dave S. Weaver,John Preston, Terry Milson, Carm Vespi

Art Direction and Design: WordsmithDesign and Advertising

Contributing Writers: AdministrativeCoordinators, Terry Milson, Trudi Down,The Daily News, Carm Vespi, Judy Mair,Graham Dickinson, Susan Fekecs, JoshWong and Eugene Martinello

guests included Dr. Peter George, who hasnever missed an Extravaganza, as well asour own Dean, Dr. Mo Elbestawi.

The MacLab endowment dinner is heldevery year to benefit the MacLab fund; themoney is used to renew and update labora-tory equipment used by students in theirstudies. Thank you to everyone who supportsour fund.

As always, the McMaster EngineeringSociety looks forward to improving itselfto demonstrate the professional standardsof McMaster Engineering students, bothcurrent and alumni. We invite you to partic-ipate in our upcoming events such asanother outstanding production from theEngineering Musical. For more up-to-dateinformation, check out our website athttp://mes.mcmaster.ca/. We hope to seeyou soon.

MES Pres. messagecontinued from page 18

If you would like to purchase one ofthese memorabilia, please send a

cheque payable to “McMasterUniversity” and we will mail it to you.

Key Chainleather and gold-plated fireball$35.00

Golf Shirtwith fireballembroideredon sleeve$35.00

EngineeringMemoriesMemories

Fireball Pingold-plated fireball

$25.00

You’re invited...

Alumni WeekendSaturday June 5, 2004

Reunion Classes of

1964 19791984

Reunion Classes of

196419791984

Alumni Weekend

For more information contact:Ms. Carm VespiPhone: (905) 525-9140, ext. 24906Fax: (905) 546-5492email: [email protected]/engalumni/

1964

1979

1984

macengineer winter 2004

Documents

n t e r

n e e r i n g

s t e r u n

v e r s i t y w

v e r s i t ybuilding

t y o f e n g

environmental engineering

faculty plan