Schulich faculty members named Fellows of Canadian Academy of Engineering

A group of five Schulich School of Engineering faculty members were recently recognized with a prestigious distinction for their outstanding contributions to their profession.

They were among the 53 people inducted as Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) on May 28 in London, Ont.

The fellowships were created to honour those who provide leadership in education, infrastructure, innovation, energy and transportation, among other important facets of society.

Members are nominated and elected by their peers to fellowships to honour their achievements and service to the engineering profession. The CAE is a non-profit organization established in 1987 to honour the past and shape the future of engineering.

“We are incredibly proud of each of our inductees, and grateful for their contributions and service in our classrooms, research labs and community,” says Schulich Dean Bill Rosehart. “Each recipient has contributed greatly to the success of our school and to our world.”

Frank Cheng

A leading expert in pipeline engineering, Dr. Frank Cheng, PhD, has become known around the world for his innovation and knowledge.

He pioneered the exploration of hydrogen-steel interactions at an atomic scale in high-pressure gaseous environments and has devoted his career to helping make pipelines safer.

Inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2023, Cheng has spent the past two decades studying pipeline corrosion and says the fellowship acknowledges his efforts and achievements so far.

“In addition to transporting conventional oil and natural gas, the pipelines will play a crucial role in facilitating the safe, economical and efficient delivery of emerging energies like hydrogen, biofuels, ammonia and carbon dioxide,” says Cheng, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. “Receiving this award serves as a tremendous encouragement to continue advancing my research in this promising field.”

Yang Gao

A world-leading academic in satellite navigation, Dr. Yang Gao, PhD’93, has an impressive list of awards and recognitions to his name.

He is a Fellow of several organizations including the Institution of Navigation, Royal Institute of Navigation and Engineering Institute of Canada, among others.

A professor in the Department of Geomatics Engineering, Gao also takes pride in bringing his findings to industry and has founded two successful startup companies.

“As an engineer, this is a great honour for me,” says Gao, who is also the president-elect of the Canadian Institute of Geomatics. “It also gives me a great sense of fulfilment when my contributions are recognized by highly respected peers and have made impact to the field of engineering and our society.”

Jocelyn Hayley

Recognized as a national and international leader in permafrost and offshore sediment research, Dr. Jocelyn Hayley, PhD, also prides herself on being a passionate and impactful educator.

A former head of the Department of Civil Engineering, she has a decorated career that includes the Engineering Institute of Canada’s Canadian Pacific Railway Engineering Medal and the APEGA Women in Engineering and Geoscience Champion Award.

Hayley is also committed to equity in engineering, as well as taking sustainable approaches to the profession that allow for integration, innovation and inclusion.

“This fellowship is really impactful as it is recognition from a group of highly distinguished engineers that the work I have done has, and will continue to, make a difference,” she says. “I’m excited to become a part of the CAE and have the opportunity to contribute to their mandates, particularly to inspire positive change around sustainability and inclusivity.”

Andy Knight

The head of the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Dr. Andy Knight, PhD, is a global leader in the field of electrical engineering.

His research focus is on energy efficiency in electrical equipment and systems, where he has worked with the transportation, power generation and power systems sectors to make positive change.

Knight also has a strong record in professional volunteering, including time as president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Industry Applications Society, along with several other roles in that organization.

“It’s humbling to receive this recognition when I see the names of others who have received it before,” Knight says. “I feel it’s recognition of the many outstanding researchers, academics and engineers I have been lucky to work with throughout my career.”  

Henry Leung

Being named a Fellow is nothing new for Dr. Henry Leung, PhD.

Leung, who is also a professor in the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, has received similar recognition with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the International Society for Optics and Photonics and the Engineering Institute of Canada.

After being a defence scientist on radar signal processing and data fusion with the Department of National Defence, Leung moved into academia and, for the past 20 years, has worked on innovative approaches around decision-support systems in areas such as smart cities and surveillance.

“I’m delighted to be honoured as a Fellow by the CAE and to have my work acknowledged in this way,” he says. “I take a lot of pride in my research and in being able to help inspire future engineers in our classrooms.”