The weather is finally changing, and spring may actually be around the corner! We often equate the season of spring with new beginnings. I would like to use this occasion of spring to ponder new ideas for the Canadian Society for Bioengineering. As Council, we continue to hold regular meetings at which we discuss items of business that address issues of concern to our technical society. Over the past number of months, we have achieved a number of new initiatives such as the John Ogilvie Research Innovation Award, Associate Member category of membership, the establishment of an expertise database on our webpage, and the establishment of a remuneration policy for tasks associated with publication of papers in our Canadian Biosystems Engineering journal. These are good accomplishments, but I still wonder whether we are doing what we need to be doing to be relevant to today’s engineering professional.
FOR A 2019 CSBE/SCGAB AWARD
As you can see from the following list of awards, our Society offers awards that cover a variety of interest areas. Let’s make sure that these awards are presented this summer in Vancouver. Please refer to our Website for more details. Deadline to submit nominations to Valerie Orsat (Awards Chair) is May 1, 2019.
NEW! John Ogilvie Research Innovation Award
This new recognition by the CSBE/SCGAB is dedicated for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to research. Demonstrated professional leadership in any area(s) related to engineering for agriculture and/or bioresource based sector. It is the highest award made by the Society for “Research Innovation”.
Maple Leaf Award
Given to honor members who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the profession. It is the highest award made by the Society. Given for outstanding personal qualities, society activities, and professional abilities.
Young Engineer of the Year Award
Given to encourage younger members of the Society who are under 40 years of age. This award recognizes outstanding contributions through design and development, extension and management or research and teaching
John Turnbull Award
This award is given to a member who has produced outstanding work in the animal housing field in industry, teaching, research or extension.
Industrial Award
The basis for selection of the award may include, but not be limited to, the ingenuity, significance and entrepreneurship involved and the contribution to society and to the profession.
John Clark Award
This award, in memory of John Clark, is given to the member who has produced outstanding work in industry, teaching, research or extension in one or more of the fields of Energy, Electric Power, Processing, or Food Engineering".
Glenn Downing Award
This award is presented to the member who has produced outstanding work in industry, teaching, research or extension in the area of Power and Machinery.
Jim Beamish Award
This award, in memory of Jim Beamish, is given to the member who, has produced outstanding work in industry, teaching, research and extension in the area of soil and water.
Let’s make sure that a number of our members are recognized for their longstanding service this summer in Vancouver. Please refer to our Website for more details. Deadline to submit nominations to Ramesh Rudra (Fellows Chair) is May 1, 2019. Our Society Manager has a list of our CSBE/SCGAB Fellows.
The designation "Grade of Fellow" shall have honorary status, to which members of distinction may be elected, but for which they may not apply. A Fellow shall be a member of outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience in the field of agricultural, food, and/or biological engineering, and shall have met all the requirements for the grade of member. A Fellow shall have been a member of the Society for ten years, and have twenty years of active practice in the profession.
The LAC thanks the authors who submitted a contribution for the Vancouver 2019 conference. The abstracts received cover a wide range of topics related to bioengineering. Acceptance confirmations will be sent by April 15th.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Please make your registration before the early bird deadline of June 25.
Our FULL registration includes access to all technical sessions, Sunday Welcome Reception, Monday BBQ, AGM and Award Banquet, breakfasts, lunches and coffee breaks all days. One day registration is also available.
BOOK YOUR ACCOMODATION NOW
Please use the group code (C190713A) in the online system to get the group rates or use the link below to get automatically the group rate.
Dr. Digvir Jayas. Source: http://news.umanitoba.ca/k-y-lo-medal-for-digvir-jayas/
Engineering Institute of Canada Recognizes International Research
Congratulations to Distinguished Professor Digvir Jayas for being awarded the Engineering Institute of Canada’s (EIC’s) K.Y. Lo Medal for signification engineering contributions at the international level.
Jayas, who is currently the vice-president (research and international) at the U of M and interim president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Stored-Grain Ecosystems from 2002 to 2009.
This news is sent by our SK member, Jeff Pridmore from New Zealand (NZ). Jeff is a graduate of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering at U of S as well. He is currently living in NZ. He worked for Degelman Industries while in Saskatchewan and is continuing to do some work for Degelman Industries in NZ. He is also helping out the equipment distributor that sells the Degelman brand in NZ (REL Group). A NZ crop farm and vineyard operation was looking for the toughest manure spreader in the world and decided on the one made by Degelman. However, they had a brand new application for the machine in mind, with a plan to combat a growing environmental problem in the wine making industry.
Jeff happened to be at the right place at the right time with relevant knowledge, and helped the team at REL assemble the machine. He also conducted all the setup and operational checks at the farm once it was delivered. The grape harvest is coming up soon, so the machine is currently sitting, waiting for truckloads of the freshly pressed marc material to arrive at the farm. Approximately 28-30,000 metric tons of grape marc is expected to be spread on their land.
Photos from: https://www.degelmanaustralia.com.au/degelman-products/livestock/m34.html
For more information, reader can look at the articles on the linked webpage above.
Now here is the personal interview with Jeff:
Q: How long have you been living in NZ? What was the reason that you moved to NZ?
My wife and I arrived in NZ at the end of October, then enjoyed a month travelling around the north island and another month travelling the south island. We've settled into the town of Oamaru, which is a lovely spot tucked tightly between the ocean and steep hills. We had been wanting to visit NZ for a long time, a bucket list place we started dreaming about eight years ago. Since it contains so many amazing things to see, we felt that even a month long vacation wouldn't do it justice. A year ago we felt like we wanted to move elsewhere in Canada to experience more of what our own country had to offer, but also looked into how hard it would be to move to NZ. We heard stories from my wife's past classmates about their great experiences in NZ as a first job after completing veterinary school. We decided now was the best time to go, so after qualifying for 23 month working-holiday visas, here we are!
Q: Jeff, what do you like the most for living in NZ?
The reason for moving to NZ instead of any of the other 200 countries in the world is probably the same answer as what I like best about living here. For a person who enjoys the outdoors, the variety of amazingly beautiful scenery packed into such a small area is unbelievable! In Canada we're used to driving vast distances to see the landscape change, but in NZ it only takes an hour or two! We like to call the south island a "mini Canada" because we have rocky coastline, snow capped mountains, flat farmland, hilly pastures, rushing rivers, pristine lakes, and thick forests. With all of this natural opportunity the Kiwi people here have fully embraced the extreme sports, so we're mustering up the courage to try white water rafting, jet boating, mountain go-carts, bungee jumping, and maybe even sky diving (although it seems completely crazy)!!
The following photos shows Jeff traveling in NZ.
