Sponsored by the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Suncor Energy Foundation and Shell Canada Limited. Administered by the CIC’s Chemical Education Fund.
The D. G. Fisher Award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of systems and control engineering while a resident of Canada.
Nomination deadline for the 2027 CSChE Awards is Aug. 1, 2026, in preparation for the 2027 CSChE conference occurring in May 2027.
View the Terms of Reference and list of Past Winners
The 2026 winner of the D. G. Fisher Award is:
Carl Duchesne
Université Laval
Dr. Carl Duchesne is a professor of Chemical Engineering at Université Laval and a recognized leader in Process Systems Engineering (PSE). His work has advanced data-driven modelling, latent variable methods, and Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) for analyzing, monitoring, and controlling quality in complex industrial processes. His contributions include both methodological innovations and applied solutions across sectors such as minerals, metals, polymers, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. He has authored nearly 150 peer-reviewed publications and supervised 60 HQPs in PSE.
Since 2006, Dr. Duchesne has collaborated with Alcoa Corporation through an NSERC-supported research program focused on PAT and monitoring tools for primary aluminum production. This long-standing partnership, supported by nearly $2M in competitive funding, has produced practical tools that enhance process understanding and performance in aluminum smelters. It has also trained numerous HQPs, including four who now hold R&D and technical leadership positions at Alcoa.
He has made significant contributions to education, notably through the Université Laval Educational Leadership Chair in Industrial Process Data Analysis, which enabled the development of a training program on data-driven process modelling and analysis with industrial support. He has also received several awards for excellence in teaching PSE courses.