Rebuilding from the ground up - How the first-year program has been completely redesigned for the future - College of Engineering
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USASK CO L L E G E O F E N G I N EERI N G M AG A Z I N E 2021
Rebuilding from the ground up.
How the first-year program has been
completely redesigned for the future.
COLLEGE Keeping the C.J. Mackenzie USask Engineering is delighted that
tradition alive
Myron Stadnyk (BE’85) will be the
45th C.J. Mackenzie Distinguished
Lecturer. Stadnyk, selected by the
Department of Mechanical Engi-
neering, retired in 2020 as president
and CEO of Calgary’s ARC Resources.
As vaccines have allowed easing of
public health restrictions, we look
forward to celebrating our lecturer
and our engineering community in
early 2022.
2020: Brad Polischuk
(BE’88, MSc’90, PhD’93)
Polischuk, selected by the Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
is vice president, detector technologies,
at Hologic, a U.S.-based medical tech-
nology company where he has made a
transformational impact on breast cancer
detection.
2019: Joe Deutscher (BE’85)
Deutscher’s successful career at Dow
Chemical had him working in various
posts around the globe before his 2019
retirement. The Department of Chemical
and Biological Engineering selected him
as the 2019 Distinguished Lecturer.
2018: Mike Marsh (BE’79)
Marsh has been president and CEO of
SaskPower since 2015 and before that he
was its chief operations officer. Marsh,
who also holds an MBA from Queen’s, was
chosen by the Department of Mechanical
Engineering as its Distinguished Lecturer.
Distinguished Lecturer Brad Polischuk speak-
ing at the 2020 C.J. Mackenzie Gala, where
he touched on 10 lessons from his career that
have defined him.
Photo by Bob Holtsman
1 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 2
COLLEGE CONTENTS
In memoriam USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING THOROUGH
The College of
Engineering remembers
FEATURES DEPARTMENTS
with respect and fondness Editor
these distinguished Donella Hoffman, Communications
Around the college:
Officer, College of Engineering COVER STORY: Faculty and staff
members of our USask Art direction/design RE-ENGINEERED for highlights:
Roger Denis, Denis Design Works student success 37 Keeping the
Engineering community Printer C.J. Mackenzie Faculty and staff
– college leadership, Mister Print tradition alive 1 awards and
Publication Date achievements 43
faculty and longtime alumni July 2021 In memoriam 3
New faculty
volunteers – who passed Published by the College of Engineering,
USask 8 things to know appointments 47
away in recent years. Use of the University of Saskatchewan
about the new
co-op program 49
logo is regulated by the University of The College of Engineering
Arthur Dumont, October 7, 2019:
Saskatchewan Board of Governors and is seeking to create the Inclusion, support,
C.J. Mackenzie Distinguished Lecturer;
is protected under section IX of the most effective first-year
engagement: Donor and alumni
Trustee, Engineering Advancement Trust;
Canadian Copyright Act. engineering program in
USask Engineering focus:
Canada, starting in fall 2021.
USask Honourary Doctor of Science The College of Engineering and the Indigenous Initiatives 53
University of Saskatchewan make no Alumni awards and
expressed or implied warranties of
USask Engineering
achievements 9
Ronald Fleming, October 25, 2019: merchantability or fitness for a partic-
Professor ular purpose or otherwise, concerning
answers the call 13
Dean’s office: Majchers make
the use of any product, statement, and an impact in
Robert (Blair) Hockley, March 5, 2021:
advice provided, and assumes no liabil- the mech lab 31
ity for any injury or damage, direct or A few minutes
Trustee, Engineering Advancement Trust consequential, which may be incurred with the dean 5 Honouring
from the use of such products or ser- the journey
vices herein. Connection and from struggle
David Male, September 16, 2020: Professor
collaboration with to success 33
Contact the Dean’s
College of Engineering Engineering alum and
Peter Nikiforuk, July 19, 2018: Dean 57 Campus Drive Advisory Board 7 A learning experience 35
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9
his team designed and
Phone: 306-966-5273 manufactured a rugged Cultivating innovation:
John (Jack) Postlethwaite, April 21, 2020: emergency-use ventilator. Paying it forward 51
General: coe.inquiries@usask.ca
strategic plan update 8
Department Head
Alumni: carlene.deutscher@usask.ca
Building success 27 Collaborate with us 21
Donors: richelle.kenn@usask.ca
Dennis Pufahl, September 13, 2019:
Communications: donella.hoffman@ Student spotlight:
Department Head
usask.ca
Research: Cube satellite
Byron (BJ) Seaman, April 24, 2021: mission reaches
C.J. Mackenzie Distinguished Lecturer;
Research with impact 23 key milestones 54
Trustee, Engineering Advancement Trust;
USask Honourary Doctor of Laws Student awards and
New research and
Yufeng Wang hadn’t con- teaching chair achievements 55
engineering.usask.ca sidered being an entre- appointments 25
Colin Sargent, February 24, 2021:
preneur, until Saskatoon
Professor
changed his mind.
3 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 4
DEAN’S OFFICE The COVID-19 pandemic has had an
immense impact on our lives since
have also stepped up to contribute to the
COVID response in very meaningful ways.
March 2020. As you’ve led USask One of the most exciting for me has been
A few minutes
Engineering’s response, what has been the multi-faceted collaborative support we
Dean Suzanne Kresta most meaningful to you as a leader? were able to provide to RMD Engineering
with the
as they worked to innovate and transcend
reflects on some key This year has given me a renewed appre-
many obstacles to deliver a remarkable
ciation for the privilege and excitement of
accomplishments within our campus learning community. Being
ventilator prototype, ready for validation
in six very intense weeks. Five profession-
the college since her arrival surrounded by bright minds of all ages,
al colleges were connected to the project,
dean
never knowing what surprise will delight us
in 2018 and looks ahead to in a conversation in The Bowl or on the way
with the College of Engineering making key
contributions that you can read more about
what’s next. to our next class or meeting . . . these are
on page 13. I could not be more proud of
some of our fondest images of campus.
our alumni, our staff, our students, and our
The things we have missed the most are provincial government. The project really
Of all the work that’s been
working shoulder-to-shoulder and face-to- exemplifies what I love the most about
accomplished since you arrived in
face, mentoring students, building peer-to- Saskatchewan – deep commitment to com-
2018, what are you most proud of?
peer discussions and teams, and bringing munity, innovation that makes sense, and
I’m most proud of the renewal and sense theory to life in our labs. We’ve come a long the ability to transcend disciplinary bound-
of hope in the college. We’ve had incredi- way and learned a lot about the advantag- aries to find solutions. While we worked first
ble support from the community and the es of recorded lectures and remote delivery to serve our rural and remote communities,
university as we’ve tackled some important and collaborations. We want to capture the result is outstanding technology that
tasks – rebuilding core functional roles in those lessons for some of our courses as stands with the world’s best. It is truly engi-
the college, building endowed chairs, and we build the future in new ways. We love neering the world needs.
implementing our vision for the future. having access to all of our alumni for online
Our leadership teams have really delivered
Where are you leading the college
events, and seeing some faces that could
– and I am inspired every day by the way
next?
not otherwise join us. These moments have
everyone is aligned and working together provided special joys, with a kind of inti- We have a great team and we need to keep
to achieve great things. macy that makes up for some of what we our focus laser sharp as we move through
have lost. this decade. Our building requires renova-
What is the biggest thing on the
tion and modernization and we are con-
horizon this year? A year ago, I don’t think any of us anticipat-
tinuing to build momentum and visibility
We’re preparing to launch our complete- ed that our campus would remain closed
for this project, which will encompass crit-
ly renewed first-year program this fall; we for a full year. The rapid pivot and adap-
ical renovations and strategic renewal as
call it RE-ENGINEERED. Our Engineering tation of our entire operation proved the
we look towards bigger and better things
Advancement Trust alumni and longtime incredible commitment our faculty have to
in the future. Our faculty complement
supporters of the college, Ron and Jane learning. In a very literal sense, even a pan-
and undergraduate programs are contin-
Graham, have been unwavering in their demic could not stop the drive to teach our
ually being renewed and we are enter-
support of the vision for this program. As young engineers – nor could it stop their
ing an accreditation review this fall after a
a result, we have something very exciting drive to learn. Our 2020 grads completed
one-year delay due to the pandemic. Our
to share – and based on our enrolment the final weeks of their degrees and the
strategic plan will deliver on our economic
numbers, others are excited about it, too. class of 2021 continued with their studies
promise to this province and our students.
You can read more about RE-ENGINEERED online for a full academic year. Faculty
The steady growth of our new co-op pro-
in this issue of Thorough on page 37. I am continued their research throughout the
gram demonstrates a strong partnership
inspired by our first-year design team’s shutdown, with labs reopening in June
with industry in creating economic oppor-
2020, and our staff pivoted their support
We have a great team and we need to keep our focus laser sharp as we rigour and creativity – and excited to
of the college in some really remarkable
tunity for the future.
welcome our first cohort of students to
move through this decade. Our strategic plan will deliver on our economic this new way of learning. It won’t be less ways. Throughout the entire year, the Throughout this issue you’ll read about
cheerfulness, resilience, and energy of our many incredible accomplishments over the
demanding or less transformative. It is
promise to this province and our students. focused and efficient like a great engineer- staff, faculty and students have buoyed our last three years, from public engagement to
entire community. more than doubling our research funding in
ing design.
SUZANNE KRESTA key areas to recruiting outstanding young
In spite of the dramatically increased work-
faculty and recognizing the stellar careers
loads people have shouldered to shift to
of other faculty members. You can expect
remote operation, people in the college
much more activity over the next two years.
Photo by Matt Ramage Stay tuned!
5 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 6
DEAN’S OFFICE Connection and collaboration with Cultivating 2018-2021 USask Engineering
When was the board created?
the Dean’s Advisory Board
Terry Bergan, P.Eng. Lisa Mueller, P.Eng.
innovation strategic plan update
Terms and membership of the board were Bergan, a civil engi- Mueller, who earned her
finalized in 2019. neer who earned his mechanical engineer-
What is the board’s role?
degree from USask, ing degree at USask, Strengthening Embracing Our
Though final decisions remain with the col-
was President and CEO
of International Road
has more than 20 years
technical and business
Our Strategic Pillars: Guiding Principles:
lege, the board provides insight and guid- Dynamics before his development experience.
ance in several strategic areas, including retirement in 2018. She is dual-hatting these
curriculum, accreditation, research, com- days as Vice President, New Ventures with Teaching and Learning Inspiring Success
Aaron Genest
mercialization of technology, fundraising Razor Energy and President of FutEra Power,
• Redesigned first-year program – • 22 faculty, including emeriti and joint
and strategic outreach. Genest is an Applications a wholly owned subsidiary, with all work
RE-ENGINEERED – scheduled to launch appointments, identified among the top 2
Engineer Manager with headquartered in Calgary.
Board members are especially attuned to September 2021 percent of scientists worldwide in Stanford
Siemens, after the 2018
the college’s ongoing efforts to better pre- Rob Norris University analysis
acquisition of start- • Engineering Co-op Internship Program
pare engineering students for their careers.
up Solido Design. He Norris was a introduced September 2020. • Two PhD students awarded high-profile
“The Dean’s Advisory Board ensures that holds a BSc and PhD in Saskatchewan Party Vanier Canada Scholarships
our college is responding effectively to Computer Science, both MLA for nearly a decade
Saskatchewan’s needs,” says Suzanne Kresta, from USask. and held several cabinet Research and Discovery
Dean of the College of Engineering. portfolios in that time, Cultivating Innovation
Tom Kishchuk, P.Eng. • Outstanding candidates recruited for seven
including Advanced
Who sits on the board? externally funded faculty chair positions • Development of a framework for engineer-
Kishchuk, who recent- Education, Innovation
ing research that is multi-disciplinary, rele-
Alumni, professionals and community ly founded TPK and SaskPower. He is currently Senior • Carey Simonson appointed Associate Dean
vant and returns value for our province:
leaders – nine in all – bring their knowledge Management Consulting Government Relations Officer at the Graduate Studies and Special Projects to
and expertise to the table. They also Inc., was previously Canadian Light Source synchrotron. He prioritize and expand graduate programs ° Themes: Agriculture, Environment, Health,
highlight on-campus activities at the President and CEO of holds a Master’s degree in political science Mining and Minerals, Sustainable Energy
college and USask to the wider world, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power from the University of Alberta.
serving as brand ambassadors. Systems Canada, Ltd. Indigenization and Inclusion ° Fundamental Areas: Imaging;
June Verhelst, P.Eng. Information and Computer Technologies;
He has a BSc and MSc (Mechanical) from
“We are all honoured to have the oppor- • Sustainable funding secured for Indigenous Transportation and Infrastructure
USask Engineering and completed the Verhelst earned her civil
tunity to give back to our community as student supports
Ivey Executive Program at the Richard Ivey engineering degree • Terry Fonstad appointed Associate Dean
members of the Dean’s Advisory Board, and
School of Business. at USask and is Senior • Indigenous Resource Centre established in Research and Partnerships, guiding the
to contribute insight, perspective and guid-
Vice President, Mining Engineering Building strategic direction of the research portfolio
ance at an intersection of USask and the Larry Long
and Energy, at Graham and promoting the college as a collabora-
broader stakeholder community,” says chair • Number of female faculty doubled, just sur-
Long is Senior Vice Industrial. tive partner
Tom Kishchuk. passing the national average for engineer-
President Operations,
ing
Potash at Nutrien.
Suzanne Kresta, P.Eng.
BOARD MEMBERS He earned his BSc
in Geology from the
(Ex Officio Member)
• Calculus removed as an admission require-
ment, eliminating an obstacle for students
Building Respect
• In honouring the strengths of diverse
University of New Kresta became dean from rural and remote communities
Daphne Arnason perspectives, an Indigenous Cultural
Brunswick. of the College of
Contextualization unit is part of the
Arnason was with Engineering on
Mike Marsh, P.Eng. Community Engagement
RE-ENGINEERED first-year program redesign
PotashCorp for 26 years, Jan. 1, 2018. Before
working in taxation and Marsh is President and that, she was a professor • Dean’s Advisory Board created for strategic
audit; she held the posi- CEO of SaskPower. of chemical engineering insight and guidance Delivering Value
tion of Vice President, He holds a degree in at the University of Alberta for 26
mechanical engineering years. Kresta, a chemical engineer, is • Revitalized marketing highlighting the col- • Relevant and timely COVID-19 research
Global Risk Management
from USask and an MBA editor of the Handbook of Industrial lege’s mission #EngineersTheWorldNeeds
when she retired. She has • Collaboration with Saskatoon’s RMD
a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from from Queen’s. He was the Mixing and Fellow of the Canadian • Shifted our student recruitment messaging Engineering on development of
USask. Distinguished Lecturer at Academy of Engineering. from "Engineers can do anything" to "There's made-in-Saskatchewan emergency-use
USask Engineering’s 2018 C.J. Mackenzie Gala. a place for everyone in engineering" ventilator
7 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 8
ALUMNI The achievements of USask Engineering alumni between Joe Deutscher (BE’85 Chemical and
Biological) was one of the featured panelists
2018 and 2020 illustrate that they are among the most at The Plastics Puzzle, a panel conversation
hosted by the college in 2020 to discuss
accomplished engineers in Canada and around the world. single-use plastics, the circular econo-
my and the role we play as consumers.
Congratulations to all! Deutscher, who recently retired after a long
career with Dow Chemical, brought indus-
Alumni awards and
try perspective
to the discus-
sion. He was
achievements
also the 2019
C.J. Mackenzie
lecturer. Scan
the code to
learn more
about the event.
Franks
Indigenous Peoples Initiatives Coordinator Science at the 2019 USask spring convo-
Angie Bugg (BE’85 Mechanical) was with USask Engineering. cation. Jayas, Vice-President (Research and
nominated for a YWCA Women of International) at the University of Manitoba,
Distinction Award in the Research and is recognized around the world as the lead-
Technology category in 2019. She has Lisa Franks (BE’07 Mechanical), a three- ing expert on grain storage and handling,
developed a specialization in energy time Paralympian, was named an honou- helping Canada maintain its global reputa-
management and is currently an rary colonel with Canadian Forces Base tion for marketing high-quality agricultural
Energy Conservation Engineer with the Moose Jaw, a position awarded to distin- commodities.
Saskatchewan Environmental Society. guished Canadians to serve as ambassadors
to the public and help foster esprit de corps
for the troops. Nicholas Kaminski (BE’13, ME’19 Civil)
earned the APEGS Promising Member
Award in 2019. Kaminski, a structural
Ron Graham (BE’62, DCL’13 Civil) with part- engineer, was recognized for his commit-
ner Jane (BEd’62) celebrated the opening ment to volunteerism and governance. He
Cherry Desjarlais of the Ron and Jane Graham Sport Science has volunteered with several engineering
and Health Centre at Merlis Belsher Place in organizations and was on the board of the
May 2019. It was funded in part with their Saskatoon Public Library. He also has gov-
John Cherry (BE’62 Geological), a world- John Desjarlais (BE’11 Mechanical) is $2.068 million gift. In October 2019, the ernance designations from the Johnson
renowned hydrogeologist was named the president-elect of the Association of Grahams announced a $1 million donation Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
the 2020 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate Professional Engineers and Geoscientists to USask’s College of Education to create and the Institute of Corporate Directors
for discoveries that have revolutionized of Saskatchewan (APEGS), after serv- the School for the Scholarship of Teaching and Rotman School of Management at the
understanding of groundwater ing a one-year term as vice-president. and Learning. University of Toronto.
vulnerability. Desjarlais, a Cree-Métis man from Northern
Bugg
Saskatchewan, was also co-chair for the
Canadian Indigenous Advisory Council Kevin Hudson (BE’91 Electrical) received Kai Li (BE’13 Civil) earned the Promising
to the American Indian Science and the 2019 McCannel Award from APEGS in Member Award from APEGS in 2020. After
Engineering Society (AISES). recognition of his commitment for helping arriving in Saskatchewan from China in
to build a sustainable energy future, includ- 2008, Li was involved in several extracur-
ing providing professional development ricular activities at USask and continued to
Matthew Dunn (BE’04, MSc’10 Mechanical) in environment and sustainability, collab- volunteer in several roles within Saskatoon’s
was awarded the 2020 McCannel Award orating on innovative energy projects, and engineering community.
from APEGS, recognizing his service to volunteering with students and teachers on
Li was also the recipient of the 2020
engineering in public education. Before sustainability issues.
Association of Consulting Engineering
returning to his roots as a practising engi- Companies – Saskatchewan (ACEC-SK)
neer in 2021, Dunn was the Indigenization Young Professional Award, recognizing his
and Reconciliation Coordinator in the Office Digvir Jayas (PhD’87 Agricultural) was
career progress as a structural engineer.
of the Vice Provost Indigenous Engagement recognized with an Earned Doctor of
continued on next page
at USask and prior to that he was the
9 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 10
Kenneth Linnen (BE’72 Civil) was honoured STEP (Science Technology Engineering and David Manz (BE’72, MSc’74 Agricultural)
with the Brian Eckel Distinguished Service Production) Award from the Manufacturing was named a fellow of the Canadian
Created in 2019, the EAT Alumni
Engineering
Award from the APEGS in 2019, after a Institute. In 2019 she was a L’Oreal Paris Academy of Engineering. Manz invent-
career that spanned both the public sector Women of Worth Canada Honouree and ed a filter that brings safe, clean water to Service Awards recognize the
and the consulting field. He was in charge also received the Influential Women in millions of people and freely shared the
of the consulting team for several Regina
subdivisions, infrastructure improvements
Manufacturing Award from Putnam Media. technology. He was inducted to the Alberta
Order of Excellence in 2018. Advancement Trust selfless volunteerism, long-
term dedication and passion
on 15 First Nations communities, and the
Global Transportation Hub. Harold Orr (BE’59, MSc’63 Mechanical) was (EAT) Alumni for engineering education of
Service Awards
invested into the Order of Canada in 2019,
in recognition of his integral role in improv-
each honouree. Because of their
ing energy efficiency and conservation in dedication, the EAT continues to
Canadian homes. He was a key driver of the
Saskatchewan Conservation House project, flourish today.
which led to new national energy conserva-
tion protocols for Canadian buildings.
2019
Dennis Paddock (BE’68 Civil) was awarded
the Brian Eckel Distinguished Service Award Dean Peter Nikiforuk: Though not a USask Engineering Art Dumont (BE’67 Mechanical, DSc’92 Hon.): Dumont
from APEGS in 2020 after a career manag- alum, the EAT felt Dean Nikiforuk was certainly deserving earned a reputation as one of USask’s most influential
ing transportation and municipal infra- of recognition, as it was his 1978 fundraising campaign fundraisers and ambassadors in Alberta. He helped estab-
structure projects with the Saskatchewan that was the precursor to the EAT. In that campaign, he lish the Calgary Engineers Fundraising Committee and
government. He also spent 23 years as encouraged graduating students to help fund updated served as an EAT trustee for more than 20 years. He was
Executive Director and Registrar of APEGS, equipment for the Engineering Building’s new addition. also a welcoming presence for many young alumni in
overseeing the revision of The Engineering Nikiforuk passed away in 2018. Calgary. Dumont passed away in October 2019.
Act to The Engineering and Geoscience Act
and growing membership from 3,600 to Al Schreiner (BE’63 Mechanical): For decades, Schreiner
more than 13,000 during his tenure. has been a continuous pillar in the friend raising and
B.J. Seaman (BE’45 Mechanical, LLD’12 Hon.): Seaman
fundraising efforts of the EAT, Calgary Engineers and
Seaman
supported Dean Nikiforuk’s inaugural fundraising cam-
FOCUS (Friends of the College of Engineering at the
paign and joined the EAT’s first board of trustees in 1986.
Harpreet Panesar (MSc’05 Civil) received University of Saskatchewan). He recently became the EAT’s
He served on the board for more than 25 years. Seaman
the Exceptional Engineering/Geoscience first lifetime honourary trustee.
Don Seaman (BE’47 Mechanical, LLD’19 passed away in April 2021.
Project Award in 2020 from the Association
Nemeth Hon.) was honoured with a Doctor of Laws
of Consulting Engineering Companies –
at USask’s 2019 spring convocation. With
Michael Nemeth (BE’08 Mechanical)
Saskatchewan (ACEC-SK). He has pro-
vided technical input for major projects his brothers, Seaman was a key player in
the development of the oil industry in
2020
received the 2020 Environmental Excellence including the Regina Bypass, Warman and
Martensville Interchanges, Estevan Bypass Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Seaman
Award from APEGS. A mechanical engi-
and Saskatoon Freeway. Engineering and Drilling Company became Wayne Clifton (BE’63 MSc’66 Civil, DSc’96 Hon.): Clifton John Niedermaier (BE’63 Agricultural): Niedermaier con-
neering consultant, Nemeth is an expert in
Bow Valley Industries, a major energy was a founding trustee of the EAT and its first chair, a tributed more than 30 years of continued service as an
building to the Passive House standard, an
company that eventually had 15 subsidiar- position he held for more than 20 years. His gifts of time, engaged alum, from leading the Friends of the College of
international low-energy building standard.
Don Poon (BE’79 Civil) received the ies. After retiring from Bow Valley in 1988, talent and treasure were an important source of strength Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan (FOCUS),
In Saskatoon, he founded an eight-unit
Association of Consulting Engineering Seaman formed DRS Resource Investments, for the college. His long-term involvement with the EAT to chairing the Fundraising Committee. He ensured many
housing development designed to these
Companies – Saskatchewan (ACEC-SK) pursuing interests in the nurturing of oil provided an opportunity for a wide network of people to young alumni had a positive volunteer experience and
standards.
Mentor Award in 2019 for his dedicated and gas service companies and in land maintain their connection to the college. still continues to make campaign calls.
mentorship at Saskatoon’s SAL Engineering development.
Adeola Olubamiji (PhD’17 Biomedical) Ltd., showing a genuine interest in the Got something to celebrate?
has received several recent awards and intellectual and personal growth of his Lindsay Milne (BE’59 Geological): Milne was an inau-
gural member of the Calgary Engineers Friend Raising
Let us know!
accolades. She was named one of Canada’s mentees.
group, which turned its attention to fundraising after a We’d love to let the USask Engineering community know
100 Most Powerful Women in 2020 by the
series of successful alumni events. In 1990, Milne became about your recent awards or achievements. Drop us a line
Women’s Executive Network. She was also
the first chair of the Fundraising Committee, and for at donella.hoffman@usask.ca
recognized as one of RBC’s Top Canadian
years this group contributed greatly to the success of the
Immigrants in 2020 and received the 2020
Engineering Advancement Trust.
11 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 12
FEATURE
USask Engineering College of Engineering shows it’s ready
answers
to step up and collaborate – at every
level – with an industry partner.
BY DONELLA HOFFMAN
As the COVID-19 pandemic started overwhelming health-
the call
care systems around the world in March 2020, University of
Saskatchewan (USask) College of Engineering alum Jim Boire
(BE’96) decided that designing and manufacturing an emergency-
use ventilator (EUV) was simply the right thing to do.
And that’s what he and his team did. Within nine months, their
ventilator was developed and had received COVID-19 Medical
Device Authorization from Health Canada. Along the way, Boire’s
company became Saskatchewan’s first licensed medical device
manufacturer – an accomplishment he’s now building on.
“What do you need?” The first prototype was built in less
than a week and put RMD on the
In mid-March 2020, shortly after the
path to becoming Saskatchewan’s
World Health Organization declared
first medical device manufacturer,
that COVID-19 was a global pandem-
via its subsidiary, One Health Medical
ic, Boire received a phone call from
Technologies.
his daughter, an ICU nurse at Royal
University Hospital in Saskatoon. Though Boire knew what his team
was capable of, he recognized that
There may not be enough ventila-
it wouldn’t be enough to get his
tors, she told him. At that time, North
foot in the door with USask and the
Americans had been hearing about
College of Medicine – home to the
doctors in Italy who were rationing
end users he needed to consult.
life-saving health-care and equip-
ment, including mechanical venti- “If you’re going to start knocking on
lators, which take over the work of doors, asking people to trust you,
breathing for a patient and get more you have to have some credibility.”
oxygen into their lungs. (Please see
In late March, he called Suzanne
graphic on page 15.)
Kresta, Dean of the College of
Boire, president of Saskatoon-based Engineering, and invited her out to
RMD Engineering Inc., felt he had see RMD’s ventilator project.
to do something. He and his team
It wasn’t their first meeting.
began developing a ventilator, which
Boire was one of the industry
ultimately became the EUV-SK1.
representatives invited to sit in
It was a decision that not only on candidate presentations in
Jim Boire with one of the EUV-SK1 ventilators impacted his company, but his career. 2017 during USask’s search for a
this spring at RMD Engineering in Saskatoon. new engineering dean. “She was
“It was the right thing to do,” he says.
very forward-thinking and very
Photo by Gord Waldner “If you know you have a team of peo-
progressive,” he recalls.
ple that can pull a rabbit out of a hat,
you can’t not act.” continued on next page
13 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 14
In addition to her work as an academic, Micah Fenez says nents. He specifically had in mind a 1970s-
Kresta is a chemical engineer who is rec- working on critical aspects era Hardinge-brand lathe, highly sought
ognized internationally for her expertise in of the ventilator has been after because of its precision, accuracy and
industrial mixing. It was this knowledge of humbling. versatility.
manufacturing processes that Boire wanted
Photo by Gord Waldner Though Boire had tracked down and pur-
to capitalize on, ultimately seeking to have
chased his own Hardinge machine for
Kresta validate RMD’s capacity to develop a
RMD, it wouldn’t be delivered until May. He
medical device.
also knew that the Engineering Shops at
“I approached Suzanne, one engineer to the College of Engineering had two of the
another, and asked if she would afford us a lathes in question, purchased new back in
visit to talk about what we were doing. And the 1970s for about $60,000 apiece.
that's the way she is, she just said, ‘OK, you
“No one makes a lathe that’s comparable,”
have my attention. What do you need from
says Blair Cole, Engineering Shops manager,
me?’ ”
of the prized equipment.
With his machining background, Boire
I approached Suzanne, understood their capabilities as well. “Those
one engineer to lathes are an icon in the industry. You can
another, and asked if What is a mechanical do things on them that you can’t do with
she would afford us a ventilator? modern lathes,” he says, referring to their
Timelines are ability to produce very small items to very
visit to talk about what A mechanical ventilator important in business precise specifications.
we were doing. comprises a computerised box
With the lathes sitting idle after the college
that sits on top of a mobile and we understood had ceased in-person operations in March,
And that's the trolley in a hospital (though
this was critical to keep Boire struck a deal to borrow them until his
way she is, she just the EUV-SK1 is contained in
a Pelican-brand equipment the project moving. own arrived.
said, ‘OK, you have case). Modern mechanical In lieu of paying a rental fee for the seven
my attention. ventilators have one or more SUZANNE KRESTA weeks it used the lathes, RMD donated
What do you need screens, dials, data cables, equipment back to the Engineering Shops:
power cords and gas tubes. lathe tools and accessories that staff had
from me?’ They are highly complex and had on their wish lists for years.
sophisticated pieces of equip-
JIM BOIRE While lending out the college’s equipment
ment, allowing adjustments
is not an everyday practice, Kresta says
such as:
On a Sunday night in late March, Kresta the timing made sense and considers it an
• how long inhalation for a spent three hours at RMD, touring the facil- important part of the college’s collabora-
patient lasts ity and learning about the ventilator from tion with RMD.
Boire. She was impressed enough to con- out her, and I know she says she didn't do RMD quickly adapted and simplified the
• how much air is received anything but she did. It's being that person, design of the EUV-SK1. Rather than using “Timelines are important in business and
clude that the project was feasible and saw
in that role, that makes her own decision turbines to control flow, they use propor- we understood this was critical to keep the
• how often air is received there was a role for USask expertise. That
and trusts you. That was very, very appre- tional solenoids instead. There are only four project moving,” she says.
night, she called Preston Smith, Dean of the
• the concentration of oxygen
College of Medicine, putting in motion a ciated.” moving parts in the ventilator. The solenoids are just one example of
within the air (air is about
collaboration that would reach into several “We just build things and design things While the first prototypes used outsourced RMD’s resourceful approach to sourc-
21% oxygen, but in some
corners of the university. that work” solenoids, there was no guarantee RMD ing components for the initial EUV-SK1:
cases the percentage of
could secure ongoing supply at a reason- everything from flow metre valves to the
oxygen is increased) “This project has been so aligned with Along with the urgency that arose as the
able price. electrical circuit boards were made in
Saskatchewan values,” Kresta says. “There COVID-19 pandemic intensified, there was
• how much pressure the Saskatchewan.
was such a high level of partnership and another complication: with Chinese digital So, as many generations of Saskatchewan
patient’s lungs are inflated to
innovation – because each of the players component supply chains severely disrupt- farmers and entrepreneurs have done when "It's important to have this capacity here,"
• the temperature and saw that there was a problem to solve and Boire says. "This is where you've got all the
ed, Boire and his team found that many confronted with a problem, Boire came up
humidity of the air we believed we had the resources right ingenuity of every farmer in every corner of
of the parts they needed were suddenly with his own solution: RMD would design
here to solve it.” unavailable. and manufacture its own solenoids. this province, so there's things that we can
-Berto Pandolfo, Senior Lecturer,
Product Design, University of do here because for some reason we don't
Boire says Kresta’s support provided the In the course of solving this immediate Boire was a journeyman machinist before
Technology Sydney believe in those boundaries and we just
credibility needed to open more doors at problem, Boire took the initial steps that going back to school to get his engineer- build things and design things that work.”
USask. have ultimately had a huge impact on ing degree and knew the equipment he
RMD’s strategic direction. needed to start producing solenoid compo- continued on next page
“None of this would have happened with-
15 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 16
into. It was a big confidence boost for gram put out the call, Boire interviewed six
them.” students, hired all of them, and then kept
them extremely busy.
Boire has since purchased equipment that
allows RMD to build the circuit boards Among other things, they put together new
in-house and which he hopes will facilitate vertical mills that would manufacture ven-
more collaboration between the college tilator parts and constructed the ventila-
and RMD. tor assembly room. Because the ventilator
was still in development, they had to sign
non-disclosure agreements.
Boire says he impressed on the students
the fact that they were working on a brand-
new medical device was something special,
We were clear for RMD and for Saskatchewan.
with them that this “We were clear with them that this was
Because of the pace was different. different,” he says. “This is a never-happen-
of the project, we got This is a never-happen- again-in-your-life moment. They had to
grow up instantly. They were rock stars.”
to see the design get again-in-your-life
all the way through to moment.
After the assembly room was built within a
couple of weeks, the quick pace continued,
completion. says Mitchell Theriau, one of the six sum-
They had to grow up mer students.
It was neat seeing it instantly. They were
“Then we had to figure out how the pro-
happen in such a short rock stars. cess flows from the shop to that room,
amount of time. and how the inventory would work. So we
Boire consults with two team members JIM BOIRE really started with nothing in the room and
CHANDLER JANZEN tasked with assembling ventilators. ended up with ventilators there in a very
Photo by Gord Waldner short time,” he says.
By the time Theriau returns to school in
September 2021 for his fourth year of
mechanical engineering, he will have spent
Janzen says that the secondment made his 16 months at RMD - a four-month summer
“This experience has made us better at lab remotely, Janzen and his colleagues Given the tight timelines that RMD had summer busier than it normally would have job and a 12-month co-op work placement.
what we do” planned to spend the coming months given itself, work on the project was been, but it was worth it. Over the past year, he has been involved in
converting in-person labs for online intense, but enjoyable, Janzen says. writing the work instructions and checklists
The halls of the College of Engineering are “It was a bit of a sacrifice but at the same
delivery. for assembling the ventilators, which can be
usually buzzing during March as students “It was a good experience. I was always time, it was really impressive to see how
push to finish quizzes, assignments and Then a former student, now working at thinking about it, even when I got home. It RMD, and Jim Boire particularly, was put- up to 44 pages long. “I feel I’ve gotten a lot
labs before finals hit. RMD, reached out for help with the electri- was like, ‘OK, what’s the next step.’ ting his neck out there to get this thing more involved than an intern usually would.
cal circuit boards they were designing for done and put together. That sense of com- I’m really excited to have had this opportu-
But in March 2020, in-person activity “And it was really nice, because of the pace nity,” says Theriau, who is from Calgary.
the new project the company was working munity was very strong and it was a really
screeched to a halt when USask closed its of the project, we got to see the design
on – a made-in-Saskatchewan ventilator. good thing to participate in.” A second mechanical engineering student,
campus. get all the way through to completion. It
“Working on a ground-up design is a very was neat seeing it happen in such a short Though he and Gowen and Pourhaj already Micah Fenez, also spent 16 months at RMD.
Employees like Chandler Janzen, a support As someone who went into engineering
different process and they were feeling amount of time.” bring industry experience to their roles,
engineer in the Department of Electrical with the goal “to learn how to build any-
like they had hit the wall,” says Janzen. “So, the time at RMD has given them additional
and Computer Engineering (ECE), suddenly The ECE engineers, along with RMD’s team, thing” he says working at RMD has been
they were looking for some mentorship insight into the connection between theory
found themselves at home. developed the circuit board layout that the perfect opportunity. “What I like about
and technical advice, and some manpower and practice, which they can bring back to
controls the ventilator’s functionality. RMD is that it fits with what I want to do,”
He is one of five professional engineers to help them get through what they were the college to share with students.
who works in the electrical and computer stuck on.” “They were very engaged and they were he says. “They can build anything: they
engineering labs. Each runs the undergrad- very good at what they did,” says Boire, “This experience, of course, has made us have the equipment and the people that
With the college labs at a standstill, three better at what we do,” he says. are capable of doing it.”
uate lab class in their area of specialization describing the work of Janzen, Gowen
ECE support engineers were seconded to
and supports students when needed, in and Pourhaj, who worked in partnership “They’ve been rock stars” Along with Theriau, he’s had a hand in
RMD: Janzen, who specializes in computer
addition to providing technical advice for with his own employees. developing the stringent process needed to
engineering; Rory Gowen, whose speciali- At the beginning of May, as the project was
grad students and researchers. document each component of the ventila-
ty is digital signal processing, and Peyman “I’m very proud that my team took this on, ramping up, Boire needed more people.
After helping students complete their final Pourhaj, who specializes in analog and digi- even though it was a little scary to jump After the college’s Co-op Internship pro- continued on next page
tal microwave sensors.
17 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 18tor, a necessity for medical certification. He Smith’s conversations with Boire then led to USask Engineering is committed to helping “If I want to be a partner with the univer- “It is a year later now, so with vaccines com-
also spent a significant amount of time last Dr. Mateen Razzi, who is also the provincial drive innovation in the province, Kresta sity, I better put my right foot forward and ing out, what we’re focusing on now is not
summer researching the flow meter, which department head of anesthesiology for the says, beyond the manufacture of medical show that I'm dedicated to this and that more sales, but getting these certified to
controls the volume of oxygen delivered to medical college and the SHA, checking out devices. It already has close partnerships our company can do the research, and the full-service, full-use ventilators. That’s a big
the patient. the ventilator and bringing in respiratory with SaskPower and with the province’s manufacturing and the interaction with the job,” Boire says.
It was a very, very cool therapists and clinicians to test the machine mining industry. different departments and colleges at the
“Because we made the part ourselves, we “We’re going to be positioning ourselves for
had to determine every variable that affects
story to be part of, and provide their feedback.
“When there are local problems, we can
university.
rural and remote areas, air ambulances and
that meter. It’s very humbling to know “At the end of the day, it’s a manufacturing find local solutions. And these help us com- “We should be ready to show that we want ambulances, so they have something more
to connect these people
that you’re working on something that’s process and the engineers are going to take pete in a global economy that values these to partner because we want to grow tech- rugged and portable that they can take
extremely critical,” says Fenez, a graduate of and get the right experts the lead on that, but you can’t sell anything innovations as much as we do,” she says. nology inside Saskatchewan.” out and use. They don’t have that capabili-
Saskatoon’s Legacy Christian Academy who in the right place, advising to anybody if the end user doesn’t like the
Boire definitely supports nurturing closer “A product that will be used world
ty right now with an acute ventilator. Ours
will be working on third- and fourth-year product,” says Smith. is an acute respiratory ventilator and it will
classes when he returns to school this fall.
the right people. integration between industry and aca- wide”
have that ability.”
“It was a very, very cool story to be part demia, rather than writing a cheque and
By the end of 2020, Saskatchewan’s pro-
Both students feel their undergrad experi- PRESTON SMITH of, to connect these people and get the waiting for the results. The journey will not be without hur-
vincial government had taken delivery of
ence in the college has given them a basic right experts in the right place, advising dles. Companies like Boire’s must have
“We need to truly set ourselves up to be the first EUV-SK1 ventilators, after striking
foundation for their work at RMD. the right people.” an MDSAP (Medical Device Single Audit
partners with the university and be collab- a deal to buy 100 units, to bring the total
Program) certification, which is accepted
“One thing post-secondary has really In addition to the College of Medicine, con- orative, finding ways to hire students and number of ventilators in the province to
by Health Canada and the Federal Drug
taught me is that you need to be able to tributions were made by other colleges as find ways to do other research projects with 650.
Administration (FDA) in the United States.
work under pressure, to work under fair- well. (Please see graphic on page 20.) each other.”
This spring, RMD was manufacturing train- This requires third-party reviews of the
ly large workloads,” says Theriau. “I think Kresta is proud to see USask Engineering’s “The university’s expertise was critical to For his part, Boire has started a master’s ing units – units that aren’t certified for device, which are paid for by the product
Engineering really shows you how to han- students step up and thrive in the RMD pulling this off,” says Kresta. degree that he is scheduled to complete in hospital use – so staff can be trained on the developer.
dle it.” environment. “Well-trained engineers are September 2022, unless it turns into a PhD EUV-SK1.
critical thinkers who can work on complex Both she and Boire believe the project The process is expensive, but doable, says
Fenez says he is particularly gratified to be project.
problems, on teams where people have a could be a template for future collaboration To this point, the company has kept the Boire, who says the company has added at
working on a unique project, Saskatchewan’s
range of experience and training,” she says. between USask and industry. One supervisor is from the College of project low-key within the health-care least a dozen employees since the ventila-
only certified medical device. “As Jim puts it,
“In our program, we strive to give students Medicine and the other is from the College industry and is instead looking more long- tor project has ramped up.
nobody wants to design a pipe cleaner. We “The university has to take a look at this
a deep understanding of how ideas move of Engineering. term.
already have those. This is making a differ- and go, ‘Wow, this was very high profile, “What we’re trying to do is follow through
ence. It’s something that we need. It’s going from concepts to the marketplace. And we very fast-moving, and it worked. There was on our ability to keep medical device man-
to help people.” add hands-on experience so they are ready a very good result,’ ” says Boire. “How do we ufacturing in the province with a product
for the workplace.” leverage that? How do we now make a pat- that will be used world-wide.”
Boire says the workload and the responsi-
bility at RMD was a challenging combina-
tion that all of the students met. Reflecting
tern for something like this, so that we can
have a set of criteria for industry partners
that truly want to be a partner?”
Boundless Collaboration The goal is to be more self-sufficient the
next time manufacture of an innovative,
high-level product is needed.
on Theriau and Fenez in particular, he says
USask collaborated with RMD in several ways during
they made incredible gains in their atten- the course of the ventilator project. “Do you remember that feeling that you
tion to detail, thinking through tasks, and had in your stomach when they said the
most importantly, recognizing if something world is short of ventilators and then they
was going wrong and reaching out for showed all those people dying and then
more information. “It’s kind of fun watching you found out that none of this stuff is
• The Western College of • USask Respiratory Research
made here?” Boire says.
them grow up of over the course of a year. What we’re trying to Veterinary Medicine’s Dr. Centre members (director Donna
It’ll be neat to see how they do after this.” Julia Montgomery, who is a Goodridge and an ICU nursing
do is follow through on “That's a terrible feeling and we want to
“We can find local solutions” respiratory subject matter graduate student Rebecca Erker) bring quality manufacturing on high-end
our ability to keep medical expert, helped with writing the wrote the ventilator training manual. things back to Saskatchewan, in a way
After she visited RMD in March 2020 to
device manufacturing in operation manual, testing of the
• RMD team members had taken
that's meaningful so the next time it isn't a
learn about its plans to manufacture a ven- machine function, the training big panic.”
tilator in Saskatchewa, Kresta knew what the province video and the usability study.
Edwards School of Business
had to happen next. Subject matter experts executive education courses on In the year since Boire began developing
needed to be consulted, to ensure the final with a product that will • College of Law professor Patricia project management and executive the ventilator, the project has changed to
product would meet the needs of the medi- be used world-wide. Farnese helped with regulatory leadership that were invaluable in set a new standard for USask collaboration
cal professionals who would use it. work on standards for medical carrying out the project efficiently with industry, inspired young engineers
JIM BOIRE
devices related to the Health and effectively under tight timelines. and changed the course of Boire’s company
She’d already been on the phone with Canada submission. as well as his own career. And it began with
The Saskatchewan Health Authority purchased - USask Communications
Preston Smith, dean of USask’s College of one engineer reaching out to another.
100 EUV-SK1 ventilators.
Medicine, to tell him about the project and
Photo by Gord Waldner secure his help in getting the right experts “None of this would have happened if
out to the RMD facility. Suzanne hadn’t taken my call.”
19 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 20DEAN’S OFFICE
Collaborate with us Learn
more
There are many ways you HOW YOU CAN ENGAGE
can build – or continue –
WHERE YOU CAN ENGAGE
your relationship with the Engagement,
Technical Corporate Engagement Who to contact How they can help
Mentorship, Research
college: from lending your
time or making a donation, Strategic • Support major • Become part of the • Co-create new knowledge and drive inno- Suzanne Kresta • Explore partnerships with transfor-
to supporting our alumni Impact research initiative of Dean’s Advisory Board vation to the forefront of Saskatchewan’s Dean mative potential
joint strategic impor- economic future engr.dean@usask.ca
• Serve on the Engineering • Learn about our plan and how
or student events. Or tance; establish
Advancement Trust Board • Ensure that the workforce of the future is we are advancing innovation in
research chair
you may choose to make • Co-create strategic
of Trustees well-positioned to meet the challenges
your company expects to face
Saskatchewan and beyond
a strategic investment initiatives or aca-
demic programming
to drive innovation in
Saskatchewan and beyond.
Partnership • Fee-for-service Research Contracts Research Grants Terry Fonstad, • Explore collaborative opportuni-
for Innovation research Associate Dean Research and ties
• Specialized research for • Support graduate students and publica-
Partnerships
• Defined short-term specific initiative tion of outcomes, as these are tomorrow’s • Understand which research ave-
engr.research@usask.ca
initiatives core technical experts nue could best meet your needs
• Opportunity for govern-
Levels of engagement • Data outputs owned ment-matched funding • Opportunity for government-matched
Heidi Smithson
• Learn about our areas of research
Research Facilitator
by funder funds focus and excellence
• IP negotiable; flexible for heidi.smithson@usask.ca
• 25% overhead funder • IP negotiable; funder has full and free
access to use results of work, including
• Fee-for-service research
Strategic right to patent
• Defined short-term
Impact • 25% overhead • Multi-year time frame
initiative
Partnership for
Innovation Co-op • Hire a student • Supervise a co-op • Build a pipeline of well-qualified potential Kristen Cutting, • Learn how to hire a co-op student
Program for for a paid work student in your place of employees Co-op Coordinator
Research Grants • Discover how we can support your
placement of employment kristen.cutting@usask.ca
Research Contracts Employers 4, 8, 12 or 16 months
• Former co-op students arrive fully trained recruitment needs with student
Fee for Service • Mentor a co-op student and have higher retention rates Tracy McArthur, information sessions, career fairs
during their work term Co-op Coordinator and speaking opportunities
tracy.mcarthur@usask.ca
Co-op Program
for Employers
Student • Be an industry • Join an alumni chapter • Sponsor an event: Safety Days, Hard Hat Carlene Deutscher, • Get connected as a client or men-
Community client and/or men- Ceremony, Capstone Design Showcase Alumni Relations and Events tor to capstone design courses
• Volunteer with the
tor for a capstone carlene.deutscher@usask.ca
Building design project
Engineering Advancement • Support student design teams and clubs • Identify volunteer opportunities
Student Trust (EAT) Richelle Kenn,
• Learn about event sponsorship
Community Development Officer
Building richelle.kenn@usask.ca • Discover donation opportunities
and student areas of need
21 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 22RESEARCH Research Themes
Research
Engineering for Agriculture
Agriculture remains a mainstay of the
Prairie economy. USask Engineering has his-
torically played a significant role in develop-
with impact
ing and supporting this sector, which faces
diverse challenges: from responding to and
harnessing new information technologies,
to getting more and healthier food to the
world’s growing population while achiev-
ing a sustainable environmental footprint.
The college recognizes that interdisciplin-
ary approaches are needed to address
We spoke with internal and these complex challenges and opportuni-
external stakeholders as we ties; members from every department are
engaged in Engineering for Agriculture.
sought to identify our most
Engineering for the Environment
impactful and highest priority
This broad category encompasses every-
research areas. This input thing from air, water, and soil quality to
to apply knowledge and principles of engi- Minerals right here in Saskatchewan. USask identifying and characterizing materials,
neering to provide solutions to complex Engineering is committed to providing and and more. Nearly every discipline pres-
helped us build our 2018- sustainable energy and infrastructure. It
problems and capitalize on life-changing expanding access to that expertise. ents an opportunity to learn from and be
includes modernizing and updating build-
2025 strategic direction for ing and infrastructure standards, respond-
opportunities. Research in this theme also
Engineering for Sustainable Energy
advanced by imaging research.
extends to animal health and welfare, and
research at USask Engineering. ing to a changing climate, developing new
to One Health – the interface of human, USask has a long tradition of excellence
Information and Computer
and more sustainable materials and energy Technologies
Our work focuses on five key sources, and better managing our natural
animal, and environmental health. in power engineering, recently shifting to
focus to grid modernization. We are poised Information and computing technologies
research Themes and three resources. Research in this theme seeks to Engineering for Mining and Minerals
to take on new challenges in Engineering are essential to advancement in every other
provide solutions for both individuals and
Fundamental Areas that are industries to reduce environmental foot-
Whether it’s potash for fertilizer, uranium for Sustainable Energy. Partnerships discipline.
for clean energy and medicine, or precious with industry tackle the challenges of
instrumental in several themes. prints and adopt sustainable practices.
metals used in so many of our technol- energy transition both globally and
• Machine learning helps with automation
and big data processing.
locally. Saskatchewan's geographical
challenges include: a small population • Materials research produces better, more
spread over a large land area with limited efficient sensors and electronic devices.
water resources; massive demand for
• Wireless sensors and networks improve
transportation of commodities; significant
communications and help capture enor-
annual climate extremes (-40˚ C to +40˚ C);
mous amounts of data. They can improve
and a high reliance on fossil fuels. We
safety and efficiency in many fields, from
are exploring clean energy technologies,
agriculture and mining to transportation
smart power grids, biofuels and improving
and medicine.
the energy efficiency of our buildings,
industries, transportation, and technologies. Transportation and Infrastructure
Fundamental Research Areas Transportation and infrastructure research
impacts progress in multiple themes.
Within each theme there are Fundamental
Research Areas that support and enhance • Agriculture and mining sectors rely on
more than one Research Theme or that transportation research to ensure reliabil-
Engineering for Health ogies, USask Engineering is focused on have synergies with most or all of the ity, safety, and efficiency in transporting
partnering with our mining sector to solve themes. Fundamental Research Areas goods to markets.
People in Saskatchewan, and many parts of include:
challenges it faces in the production of • Infrastructure research impacts the design
the world, are living longer but not always
several commodities. These range from Imaging of facilities, communications and energy
healthier. A healthy, prosperous society
geotechnical issues to adopting new tech- systems, and roadways.
depends on engineers who can provide Imaging technologies are seeing ever-in-
nologies for improving safety, efficiency,
technogies and knowledge to make health creasing application in multiple fields, from • Traffic research ensures roadways remain
and environmental stewardship. It’s critical
care more effective, affordable, personal- health studies and medical diagnostics to safe for all roadway users while ensuring
that Saskatchewan’s industry-leading min-
ized, and accessible. Working with partners understanding plant development and fun- goods can get to market safely.
eral producers have access to world-class
in medicine and health sciences, we strive damental processes like chemical reactions,
expertise in Engineering for Mining and
23 THOROUGH JULY 2021 USASK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 24You can also read
