5 Schulich researchers to be inducted as Engineering Institute of Canada Fellows

For a second year in a row, Schulich School of Engineering faculty members are being recognized with recognitions from the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC).

The group is among 23 people being inducted as EIC Fellows for their exceptional contributions to engineering in Canada.

“Being named a fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada is a prestigious acknowledgement of the outstanding work being done by engineers across our country,” says Schulich Dean Bill Rosehart, who himself was named a fellow in 2023. “We are extremely proud of how influential and inspiring this year’s University of Calgary honourees are to the engineering world.”

These five recipients will be officially inducted as fellows at the EIC Gala Banquet in Ottawa on April 20.

Steven Bryant

UCalgary’s first Canada Excellence Research Chair, Dr. Steven Bryant, PhD, leads the exploration of new and sustainable ways to develop unconventional oil reservoirs by taking advantage of advances in materials science.

His vision for the Chair is to bridge the gap between the current technological status of the oilsands industry and where it needs to be for a sustainable, globally competitive future.

A decorated educator, Bryant now serves as academic lead for the Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship, part of UCalgary's initiative to build an expand capacity for addressing societal challenges, while also consulting for a variety of companies.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at Schulich and UCalgary, especially to advance research discoveries toward commercialization,” he says. “This recognition wouldn’t have happened without those opportunities, so it’s humbling to be associated with such accomplished people as the EIC Fellows.”

Naser El-Sheimy

The science of location has become a specialty for Dr. Naser El-Sheimy, PhD’97.

After earning his PhD in geomatics engineering from UCalgary, he’s gone on to become a professor and was once a head of the department.

A Tier-I Canada Research Chair in Geomatics Multi-sensor Systems and the founder of the TECTERRA Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research, El-Sheimy’s work includes everything from the navigation of intelligent and autonomous systems to satellite technologies and wireless positioning.

“I am very humbled to be among the high-profile engineering professionals elected as a fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada,” he says. “It’s an honour to be recognized for excellence in engineering and service to the profession and society.”

Elise Fear

A professor in the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering and the department’s associate head of research, Dr. Elise Fear, PhD, has become a leader in education and research at UCalgary.

A winner of multiple awards and recognitions since joining the faculty, she and her team have developed microwave imaging and sensing techniques for biomedical and industrial applications.

Finding new approaches to support cancer diagnosis and treatment led Fear to co-found Wave View Imaging with Jeremie Bourqui in 2020, a spin-off company aimed at commercializing medical microwave imaging.

“I am very honoured to be recognized by the Engineering Institute of Canada,” she says. “I’m also very proud to be recognized alongside my amazing colleagues at Schulich.”

Janaka Ruwanpura

Not only is he a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, but Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura has also served as vice-provost and associate vice-president research at University of Calgary International.

One of 2022’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants named by Canadian Immigrants Magazine and the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from Immigrants of Distinction, he has become known for his work in the construction industry on productivity improvement, project management, project planning, sustainability and more.

Ruwanpura says it is an immense honour and a humbling affirmation of his journey in engineering to be recognized as an EIC Fellow.

“This accolade is a testament to the innovative work and dedication that we, as a community, invest in shaping the future of engineering,” he says. “It reinforces my commitment to advancing the field, inspiring the next generation and contributing to the global community.” 

Svetlana Yanushkevich

A professor in the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Dr. Svetlana Yanushkevich, PhD, serves as the associate dean – research, innovation and strategic partners at Schulich.

She also directs the Biometric Technologies Laboratory, which is the only research facility in Canada dedicated to biometric system design.

Yanushkevich has also contributed to international societies such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for the last 25 years, organizing symposia in the area of computational intelligence. and other events.

“In addition to my passion for conducting research and teaching in computational intelligence, I viewed my professional service engagements as a means of contributing to both my university and the global community,” she says. “Being recognized as an EIC Fellow is an affirmation of my hard work and that of my peers.”