FACULTY NEWS

IMMERSIVE ONLINE- LEARNING APPROACH

CELEBRATING BLACK ENGINEERS

The Fall brought a new semester of adapting to distanced learning that Assistant Professor, Civil & Resource Engineering, Dr. Kyle Tousignant faced head-on. The goal was to make classes like the in-person experience with a combination of engaging videography for labs and PowerPoints with chalkboard-like notes from Dr. Tousignant.

The 30th annual robot design competition was held virtually this year to maintain social distancing. Read about how Professor Dr. Vincent Sieben converted the class and the competition to a great example of online learning. You can also watch some clips of the student's robot's navigating through a mars simulation. A new site focusing on the community of Dalhousie's Black Engineers has been launched. The page showcases profiles of Black Engineers, as inspiration for prospective students, and a means of building a network among current students and alumni. The site also provides resources, scholarships, and opportunities available to black students and prospective students. We hope to grow the list of profiles so if you're interested in participating, email merilyn@dal.ca.

VISUALIZING STEEL CONNECTIONS

In November of 2019, Dal’s Faculty of Engineering teamed up with the Faculties of Computer Science and Science to host the Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Networking and Panel in Halifax. The annual event aims to celebrate women working in STEM related fields, build networks and generate support for women in the workforce.

CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR APPOINTMENTS

Ghada Koleilat received the Canada Research Chair in Advanced Materials for Energy Application. Ali Nasiri as Chair in the area of Ocean Engineering. Pedram Sadeghian received a CRC renewal for his work in Sustainable Infrastructure.

FELLOWSHIP AND GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dr. Ya-Jun Pan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering has been named, 2021 EIC Fellow (FEIC) for her “excellence in engineering and services to the profession and to society”.

Dr. Kevin Plucknett and Vincent Sieben are among seven remarkable researchers at Dalhousie who are receiving funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Their work on advanced ceramics will be utilized across a range of industries and contributes multiple socio-economic benefits for Canadians.

NEW FACULTY MEMBERS

• Colleen Dewis, Instructor • Alison Scott, Assistant Professor • Mahshid Hadavand, Instructor • Hamed Aly, Instructor • Ali Nasiri, Assistant Professor • Lauren Somers, Assistant Professor • Hamid Afshari, Assistant Professor • Dr. Janie Wilson, Director, School of Biomedical Engineering

STAFF

• Victoria Sullivan, Administrative Secretary • Merilyn Layne, Faculty Alumni Officer • Aaron MacNeil, Technician • Christine Baker, Assistant Dean Advancement • Kathryn Cameron, Coordinator ideaHUB • Any Nath, Secretary • Ola Hamada, Secretary • Liane Sandula, Manager Facilities and Safety • Michael Ruffalo, Technician • Erin Graham, Interim Director ideaHUB