Science and industry celebrated their accomplishments at the CIC/SCI Canada Business Innovation Seminar and Awards Dinner. Photo credit: Krista Leroux
The CIC/SCI Canada Business Innovation Seminar and Awards Dinner held March 26 in Calgary highlighted the achievements and initiatives of chemistry and chemical engineering leaders in industry and academia. Seminar speakers discussed a range of topics, from emerging technologies that will improve the Albertan petroleum industry to current projects that have created important benchmarks in sustainable management of the oil sands. Other topics included novel modular plants designed to enhance product quality, a new approach to water management in Alberta and strategies to use chemical advances to extract value from residual chemical process streams and enable sustainable economic growth.
Keynote speaker Kim Sturgess accepted the Canada Medal from CIC/SCI Canada Chair David Beckman. Photo credit: Krista Leroux
Chemical industry leaders were honoured for their achievements and accomplishments at the awards dinner. They included: Esteban Chornet of Enerkem/Université de Sherbrooke, who received the Kalev Pugi Award for exceptional achievement in research and development of benefit to Canada; Dave Emerson of CCC Group, Canada Colors and Chemicals, who received the International Award for outstanding service and contributions in the international sphere to an industry that is based on chemistry; Duke du Plessis of Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions, who received the Purvis Memorial Award for a major contribution to the development and implementation of successful business/technical strategies within the Canadian chemical industry; Alan Fair, previously of COSIA and Syncrude Canada, who received the LeSueur Memorial Award for the development of technical excellence in either a university or industrial setting and Kim Sturgess of Alberta WaterSMART, who received the Canada Medal for outstanding service to a Canadian industry based on chemistry.
The focus of the seminar then shifted to career development as Michelle Young of the University of Alberta and John Steyn of the University of Lethbridge were recognized for their 2014 Student Merit Awards. Students were also inspired by Sturgess’ keynote “Lessons from a River,” which was especially relevant to those just starting their own careers. Finally, students were urged to attend next year’s CIC/SCI Canada Business Innovation Seminar, set for next spring in Toronto. As CIC/SCI Canada Chair David Beckman said, “The blueprint for Canada’s economic and societal advancement lies in innovations led by science and business and that starts with our students.”