John Turnbull Award
This award is given annually to the CSBE/SCGAB member who, in the opinion of the Awards Committee, has produced outstanding work inbuilding systems, or waste management in industry, teaching, research, or extension. Prior to 1993, this award was known as the CSAE/Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute (CSAE-CSSBI) Award. The award recipient is selected from nominations from at least three members of CSBE/SCGAB and must have been a member of the Society for at least five years.
Ce prix est décerné chaque année à un membre qui s'est distingué dans le domaine de la construction agricole ou de la gestion des déchets par l'enseignement, la recherche, la vulgarisation ou le travail en industrie. Anciennement connu sous le nom «SCGR/Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute Award» le récipiendaire du prix John-Turnbull est choisi parmi les candidats mis en nomination par trois membres et est membre de la SCGAB/CSBE depuis au moins cinq ans.
Nomination Form
2026 JOHN TURNBULL AWARD
Dr. David B. Levin has been engaged in the world of academia since 1991 when he joined the Department of Biology at the University of Victoria as an Assistant Professor. During the first 15 years of his academic career at the University of Victoria, David progressed to the rank of Associate Professor and held an NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Biotechnology from 1991-1996. In 2006, David was recruited to come home to Winnipeg where he joined the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba. He achieved his final promotion to the rank of Professor in 2014. Dr. Levin holds a unique role in the Department of Biosystems Engineering given that his university education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies (University of Waterloo), an MSc in Entomology (University of Guelph) and a PhD in Virology (McGill University); he is the lone non-engineer in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba (and is the logical professor to teach the “Biology for Engineers” course). Dr. Levin’s research approach integrates microbiology, molecular biology, genome sciences and bioprocess engineering. During his first decade at the University of Manitoba, David’s research focus was on the development of new processes for next generation biofuel production with lower input costs. In recent years, his research has transitioned from an emphasis on biofuel production to i) production of renewable biodegradable polymers synthesized by bacteria and ii) microbial degradation and biorecycling of plastics. Professor Levin has an outstanding publication record (over 180 refereed publications), is highly regarded as an expert in the field (78 invited keynote speeches) and has supervised more than 90 research personnel through the continuum from undergraduate student to postdoctoral fellow. Dr. David Levin is a worthy recipient of the John Turnbull Award due to his excellent contributions to waste management during his academic career in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba.
2025 JOHN TURNBULL AWARD
Dr. Patrick Brassard holds a degree in agri-environmental engineering from Université Laval (Canada) and completed a Ph.D. in Bioresource Engineering at McGill University. His doctoral research focused on pyrolysis and the use of biochar for soil amendment and carbon sequestration. During his postdoctoral research internship at the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) in Toulouse (France), he gained valuable expertise in life cycle assessment (LCA).
Currently a researcher at the Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (IRDA), Patrick is committed to advancing sustainable agricultural practices. His work focuses on developing innovative approaches for the management and valorization of agricultural residues, manure, and slurry. He has contributed to numerous manure management projects, including mechanical separation system testing and the establishment of complete mass balances for manure treatment processes. Recently, he has been studying an integrated management chain combining in-barn separation, aerobic treatment of the liquid phase and dry anaerobic digestion of the solid phase. He has also played a key role in developing several technical reference documents for manure storage tank design.
In addition to his research activities, Patrick contributes to the training of future professionals by supervising graduate students as an adjunct professor at Université Laval, reflecting his strong commitment to the field of agricultural engineering.
2024 John Turnbull Award
Sébastien Fournel obtained his BEng (2010) and MSc (2011) degrees in Agri-Environment and Agri-Food Engineering from Laval University, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Sherbrooke University (2015). Since 2018, he is a professor in agricultural engineering focusing on farm infrastructures at Université Laval, where he is the Chairholder of the Chair in Educational Leadership on Sustainable Agricultural Buildings, funded by more than 20 agricultural organizations to promote teaching innovation, research and knowledge transfer in the farm building sector. This chair has allowed the supervision of 21 undergraduate students, 3 interns, 8 MSc students, 5 PhD, 3 postdoctoral fellows and 11 research assistants. Dr Fournel currently leads +10 research projects (value of $2 M) and collaborate to +20 others with the Chair’s partners. To this date, he has submitted or published more than 25 papers and 2 book chapters, and participate to more than 80 conferences, including 39 as an invited speaker. Dr. Fournel has been an active member of CSBE/SCGAB and ASABE since 2006 and has served the society in different roles through the years: 2010 CIGR Conference volunteer, 2020-2021 CIGR Conference Local Arrangement Committee member, 2021-2022 Quebec Regional Director, and Society Manager since 2022. Between 2012 and 2017, he also served as Vice-President and President of the Quebec’s Agri-Food Engineers Association (AIAQ). Sébastien is a creative, dynamic and organized engineer. He practices his profession by emphasizing the development of knowledge, autonomy and critical thinking skills. He ensures the development of the next generation by offering them opportunities to stimulate their interests by solving problems rooted in the reality of the major challenges facing the society. For him, the future of our planet depends on the social and professional commitment open-minded and competent young engineers. Through his engineering efforts, his work in R&D and his involvement with CSBE/SCGAB, Dr. Fournel contributes significantly to a more sustainable agriculture in Canada.
Sébastien Fournel a obtenu un baccalauréat en génie agroenvironnemental (2010) et une maîtrise en génie agroalimentaire (2011) de l’Université Laval, et un doctorat en génie chimique de l’Université de Sherbrooke (2015). Depuis 2018, il est professeur en ingénierie des infrastructures et des équipements agricoles et agroalimentaires à l’Université Laval, où il a mis sur pied la Chaire de leadership en enseignement des bâtiments agricoles durables, soutenue par une vingtaine d’organisations du milieu agricole afin d’appuyer l’innovation pédagogique, la recherche et le transfert dans le domaine des constructions rurales. Cette chaire a permis l’encadrement de 21 étudiant.e.s de 1er cycle, de 3 stagiaires, de 8 étudiant.e.s à la maîtrise, de 5 étudiant.e.s au doctorat, de 3 stagiaires postdoctoraux et de 11 auxiliaires d’enseignement et de recherche. Le Dr Fournel dirige actuellement +10 projets de recherche d’une valeur de plus de 2 M$, en plus de collaborer à +20 autres avec les partenaires de la Chaire. Il a à ce jour soumis ou publié une vingtaine d’articles scientifiques et deux chapitres de livre, en plus de participer à plus de 80 conférences, dont 39 comme conférencier invité. Sébastien est un membre actif de la CSBE/SCGAB et de l’ASABE depuis 2006 et a servi la CSBE/SCGAB dans différents rôles : bénévole lors de la Conférence CIGR de 2010, membre du comité local de la Conférence CIGR de 2020-2021, directeur régional pour le Québec en 2021-2022 et directeur-général depuis 2022. Entre 2012 et 2017, il a également servi comme vice-président et président de l’Association des ingénieurs en agroalimentaire du Québec (AIAQ). Sébastien est un ingénieur créatif, dynamique et organisé. Il exerce la profession en mettant l’emphase sur le développement des connaissances, de l’autonomie et du sens critique. Il veille à l’épanouissement de la prochaine génération en lui offrant des opportunités de stimuler ses intérêts par la résolution de problèmes ancrés dans la réalité des grands défis de société. Pour lui, l’avenir de notre planète passe par l’engagement social et professionnel de jeunes ingénieur.e.s ouverts et compétents. Par ses efforts en ingénierie, son travail en R&D et son implication à la CSBE/SCGAB, le Dr Fournel contribue significativement à une agriculture plus durable au Canada.
2020 John Turnbull Award
Dr. Huiqing Guo, P.Eng., is awarded the Canadian Society for Bioengineering (CSBE/SCGAB) John Turnbull award for her outstanding contribution to teaching, research and professional service in agricultural building systems engineering. Huiqing has been a Professor at of the University of Saskatchewan since 2002, before 2013 in the Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering, after 2013 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She is a Professional Engineer in the Province of Saskatchewan since 2002. She is a twenty-twoyear member of CSBE/SCGAB. She has served on the CSBE/SCGAB Awards Committee since 2004 as member, Vice Chair, Past Chair; she has served as moderators/chair for numerous technical sessions at CSBE/SCGAB annual conferences, coordinated the CSBE/SCGAB President visit to the U of S, and chaired the 2006 CSBE/ASABE Regional Conference Committee. Huiqing is the recipient of one ASABE Superior Paper Award. Huiqing teaches various courses in the area of animal and plant structures and environment and remains very active in research in this area and she has expanded her research area to air quality in environmental engineering. Her research results contribute to the knowledge in the areas of animal production environment, greenhouse environment, and air emission impact assessment for agricultural sources, especially air dispersion modeling and setback determination.
2018 John Turnbull Award
Kris Dick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering, Director of the Alternative Village at the University of Manitoba, maintains a consulting practice, is Executive Director of the Western Wood Truss Association – SK, MB, N.W. Ont. and a registered professional engineer in five provinces. Coming out of a trade background as a Journeyman Boilermaker he brings a hands-on approach to his research and teaching. He has been the recipient of numerous teaching and outreach awards. Kris is particularly proud of the service-learning course he developed and ran in rural Honduras which provided design and construction experience for engineering students. The majority of his research has been with industry partners. His work has supported product development and evaluation and also had an impact on Canadian truss design specifications. Kris currently teaches courses in wood design, light frame structures, alternative building systems and instructs the Biosystems capstone course. His recent research involves the evaluation and development of alternative building materials such as earth, straw and hemp combined with recycled material for structural and thermal performance.
