McMaster University welcomed more than 80 researchers and graduate students for the 2025 Control and Statistics Meeting, held on May 27 and 28. The annual event brought together leading minds in process systems engineering from across Ontario and Quebec to share research, exchange ideas and foster collaboration.
Process systems engineering plays a critical role in the design, operation and optimization of complex industrial systems, including food and pharmaceutical production, energy systems, chemical manufacturing, and metallurgy. As industries strive for sustainability, engineers in this field are helping to develop low-carbon, economically viable solutions and improve the efficiency of existing operations — from individual equipment control to full-scale supply chain optimization.
The two-day conference featured presentations from graduate students representing institutions such as Queen’s University, University of Waterloo, Polytechnique Montréal and the Université de Sherbrooke. Topics ranged from mathematical modelling and process control to optimization, machine learning and fault detection, with emphasis on applications in the chemical, biosystems and energy sectors.
A glimpse at interdisciplinary applications
The conference provided a valuable platform for graduate students to present their research, receive feedback and engage with peers and experts in the field.
“Attending the Control and Statistics Meeting was a rewarding experience,” says Lina Hamed, a master’s student in the department of chemical engineering at McMaster.
“My research focuses on the optimization of green hydrogen production as an effort to support more sustainable energy systems. It was especially interesting to see how similar methods are applied to completely different projects, which helped me appreciate the extent of what is possible in research.”
Hamed says the event posed as a great opportunity to connect with other graduate students from different universities, attend presentations and engage in meaningful networking. A personal highlight for her was the diversity in the attendees, she says.
“Seeing someone who looked like me in a research setting is something I rarely experience. It was a powerful reminder that I do belong in this field, even when it is easy to feel otherwise.”
Continuing the tradition
Established in the 1970s, the Control and Statistics Meeting has become a cornerstone event for graduate students in Ontario and Quebec. It offers a unique opportunity to share research within a specialized academic community while building professional networks that often extend beyond the conference.
“The Stats and Control Meeting is my favourite conference,” says long-time attendee Kimberley McAuley, Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University. “It’s a great opportunity for networking because students get to interact with leading experts in the field make lasting friendships. The organizers at McMaster did a great job of hosting the meeting this year. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Queen’s in 2026.”