Engineering a path to success

Engineering a path to success

By Chris Moffatt Armes

June 27, 2016

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Queen鈥檚 University Chemical Engineering professor and Queen鈥檚 Research Chair in Biochemical and Cell Culture Engineering, Andrew Daugulis, has been named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

 The Canadian Academy of Engineering allows Canada鈥檚 most distinguished engineers the opportunity to provide strategic advice on matters of importance to society. Queen's professor Andrew Daugulis was one of 43 new Fellows elected to the academy today at the academy's Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg, MB.

Election to the academy is one of the highest professional honours accorded to engineers in Canada. Fellows are nominated by existing members based on a track record of distinguished achievements and career-long service to the engineering profession.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big honour,鈥 Dr. Daugulis explains. 鈥淭here are some renowned people in that group such as Bob Beamish, namesake of Beamish Munro Hall, and Mike Lazaridis, who started Research in Motion. It鈥檚 humbling to be included in that company.鈥

Dr. Daugulis鈥 research focus is industrial biotechnology 鈥 using microorganisms and biological systems in a wide range of commercial applications such as biopharmaceuticals or industrial bioprocesses. His research also touches on the field of environmental engineering, which uses biological systems to degrade toxic compounds.

鈥淭he biological revolution is now,鈥 he says. 鈥淏iological processes are green 鈥 they don鈥檛 run at high temperatures and pressure. The carbon footprint is really small and the use of renewable resources is significant, so it鈥檚 a great place to be right now 鈥 using biological systems to do important industrial applications.鈥

While the academy will formally induct the new fellows at the Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg on June 27, Dr. Daugulis will have to wait until next year鈥檚 meeting to receive his plaque due to a prior commitment.

鈥淏ecause I found out only in April, I unfortunately will not be able to attend,鈥 Dr. Daugulis says. 鈥淥ur family has had a long-standing family vacation arranged every year going into the long July weekend. As of the date of the meeting I can use the post-nominal letters but I鈥檒l have to wait until next year鈥檚 meeting, which I will certainly attend!鈥

Founded in 1987, the Canadian Academy of Engineering is an independent, self-governing and non-profit organization established to allow Canada鈥檚 most distinguished and experienced engineers the opportunity to provide strategic advice on matters of critical importance. Its membership comprises many of the country鈥檚 most accomplished engineers, who are elected by their peers in recognition of their dedication to the application of science and engineering principles.

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