Tyler Irving (ChemE MASc 1T0) received Engineers Canada’s inaugural Award of Journalism Excellence in Engineering. He was recognized for his article ‘Nature’s Industrialists’ in the November/December 2012 edition of Chemical Engineering News, which featured the research of U of T chemical engineers Radhakrishnan Mahadevan and Emma Master. The article not only explains this cutting-edge research – which focuses on producing chemicals from biological materials that could eventually replace those made from non-renewable resources – it also demonstrates why this work matters to Canadians.
Irving is a science writer and news editor at ACCN, the Canadian Chemical News. His Master’s research at U of T focused on bioprocessing and biotechnology, but his true passion is communicating the excitement of science and engineering to the public. Besides science writing, his education and outreach roles have included science camp counselor, outreach program coordinator, museum host, high school teacher, lecturer, radio broadcaster and tutor.
U of T Engineering Professor Goldie Nejat (MIE) was also recognized at this year’s Engineers Canada Awards. She received the Young Engineer Achievement Award for her work on the development of intelligent assistive robotic aids that can help find victims in disaster scenarios, improve the quality of patient-centred care and transform the function of hospital wards and nursing and veteran homes.
Established in 1972, the Engineers Canada Awards are national awards which honour the contributions of Canadian engineers to their profession, their community and to the safety and well-being of Canadians. The award recipients were honoured at the Engineers Canada Awards Gala in Yellowknife in June.