News archive for December 2011

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada keeps academics in the news through their special online series of "Impact Stories." The most recent story features the work of Nadia Bhuiyan, associate professor within the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and associate director of the Concordia Institute of Aerospace Design and Innovation. The article explains how her research is "helping Canadian companies to keep up the pace of their product development."

To read the whole story, visit the NSERC Impact Stories website.

Concordia University's new Solar Simulator - Environmental Chamber is a unique laboratory that will revolutionize solar energy applications and building standards. This brand-new facility was officially opened on Friday, December 16, at 11:00 a.m. in the D. B. Clarke amphitheater of the Hall Building (1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W). The special event also featured the inauguration of the NSERC Smart Net-Zero Energy Buildings Strategic Research Network, a new national research initiative that will be headquartered at Concordia University.

"These projects represent a huge vote of confidence for our work on solar energy and building innovation," says Frederick Lowy, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia. "Our researchers have long been ahead of the pack in these closely related evolving fields and it is truly wonderful to receive provincial and national recognition for their efforts."

The Solar Simulator-Environmental Chamber was built with $4.6 million in funding from Industry Canada and Quebec's Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, under the federal government's Knowledge Infrastructure Program. The one-of-a-kind facility will strengthen Concordia's expertise and Canadian leadership in solar energy applications, while greatly facilitating research to develop smart net-zero energy buildings that produce as much energy as they use. 

The NSERC Smart Net-Zero Energy Buildings Strategic Network, headquartered in Concordia's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, is a national research initiative funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The network will receive $5 million in federal funding over five years and will establish research initiatives that will increase the use of net-zero energy buildings while developing the most effective methods for achieving zero average annual energy consumption at both the building and neighborhood levels.

"The research this network undertakes solves real-world problems and boosts the bottom line of its partners in industry," states NSERC's President, Dr. Suzanne Fortier, who was there for the launch. "It exemplifies NSERC's goal of connecting and applying the strength of the academic research network to addressing the opportunities and challenges of building prosperity for our country." This new research network grew out of the expertise established by Concordia and its partners through the NSERC Solar Buildings Research Network, which received federal funding from 2006-2011 and resulted in several important innovations like the one-of-kind solar system, which is integrated into the recently built John Molson School of Business Building.

This installation, which acts as a Photovoltaic/Thermal energy generating system, was also officially opened during the event. The internationally unique innovation harnesses solar energy to produce electric power and to simultaneously heat fresh air for ventilation, while being an integrated part of the building and its energy system. This installation was funded by the Department of Natural Resources Canada through the Technology Early Actions Measures demonstration program.

Related Links:

• Video of solar simulator and environmental chamber
• Knowledge Infrastructure Program
• www.solarbuildings.ca
  

In what has become a yearly tradition within Concordia's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, a small group of staff members were recently recognized for their excellent work. The Dean's Staff Excellence Awards, given to a maximum of four recipients per year, recognize outstanding contributions of the Faculty's support staff.



The 2011 winners were Emi Lu, Database Analyst within the Academic Information Technology Services unit; Dora Iordan, the faculty's Research Facilitator; Cléa Desjardins, Communications Advisor; and Olga Soares, Departmental Administrator within the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering.

For more on the four awardees, be sure to check out the Winter 2012 edition of the Concordia Engineering News, which will hit newsstands early in the new year and will feature an in-depth profile piece.

On December 6, 1989 the dreams of 14 young women came to a tragic end - but their spirit remains alive today empowering other Canadian women to become engineers. Today, Concordia's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science joins in the spirit of remembrance by supporting the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation (CEMF) in its efforts to support female engineers across the country.

The CEMF was formed in 1990 by the late Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, P.Eng. and several of her colleagues in reaction to the tragedy at École Polytechnique.  Together, they were determined to support the future of women in engineering across Canada.

That legacy continues with over 100 Canadian women having received a CEMF scholarship in engineering to help them pursue their dreams. Each scholarship winner gives at least one presentation about why engineering is a great career option for women, and men, to a high school level audience. That means due to the leadership and support of prominent engineers in Canada, both past and present, over 10,000 students across Canada have heard a presentation on engineering since CEMF's inception.

CEMF scholarship recipients are selected based on their strong leadership skills, ability to inspire others, volunteerism, extracurricular activities and to serve as role models. Through the support of the Foundation's individual donors, corporate and faculty partners, there will be 10 scholarships totaling $80,000 at the undergraduate, Master's and PhD levels of study offered to women in engineering for 2012. Deadline for applications for the 2012 CEMF Scholarships is Midnight, Friday, January 13, 2012.  All scholarship criteria can be found at www.cemf.ca.

For more information on the CEMF, its scholarships and programs, please visit www.cemf.ca or contact CEMF directly at 1-866-883-2363, info@cemf.ca.

On December 5, Professor Emeritus Hugh McQueen launched a new book entitled Hot Deformation and Processing of Aluminum Alloys. The book, published by CRC Press (part of the Taylor & Francis Group), is an advanced treatise on the microstructures and strengths developed in solid aluminum alloys at temperatures of 200-550°C when being shaped into household, architectural, automotive or aerospace products.



Faculty, friends, family, staff, and alumni joined Professor McQueen for shortbread and beverages in the Scottish tradition for the early evening event. Concordia's President, Fred Lowy, also came by to congratulate McQueen on the accomplishment.

The book is based on the research of Professor McQueen, with colleagues and students over a period of 50 years, with suitable comparison to published literature. He is much relieved and delighted by its appearance since it was started when he was named a distinguished professor emeritus in 1998. He is grateful to his co-authors (two from the technical university in Ancona, Italy and one from the University of Southern California, LA) not only for their contributions of five chapters but also for their encouragement, guidance and energy. The essential contributions of many others are described in the acknowledgements.

For more information on Professor McQueen's book, please download the following PDF document: http://www.encs.concordia.ca/documents/McQueen-Alloys.pdf