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History and Achievements

McMaster Engineering is committed to the pursuit of excellence and plays a significant role in helping McMaster University earn its reputation as one of Canada's most innovative universities. The calibre of our research and the impacts we make are well known and respected in Canada and across the globe. Our faculty members are consistently awarded national and international recognition for pushing the boundaries of discovery and exploring novel, ground-breaking technologies.

McMaster Engineering has a long history of excellence in industry-driven research and student-focused education.

Big Ideas: Meet Jack

February 15, 2018

Big Ideas: Meet Jack

John (Jack) Hodgins was McMaster's first Dean of Engineering

In 1956, McMaster named its first Director of Engineering Studies – Dr. John W. Hodgins, a Chemical Engineering professor from the Royal Military College – to develop a full engineering program for the university. The program was approved by the McMaster University Senate in February 1958. The engineering building, now John Hodgins Engineering Building, officially opened a few months later. The first class of 25 students graduated in 1961.

Five departments were established in the first two years – Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering—and, later, Engineering Physics joined them. The first engineering degrees from McMaster were Master of Engineering (MEng) degrees, with the first ones awarded in 1959. The first doctoral degrees (PhD) were awarded in 1965.

The undergraduate programs grew in step, and by 1972, over 100 engineers received their (Bachelor of Engineering) BEng degrees, with the annual total passing 200 by 1980, and in 2014 this number equalled 588. The year 1971 marked the start of the Engineering & Management program. In the early 1980s, Electrical Engineering started its unique Computer Engineering program, and Mechanical Engineering began its program in Manufacturing Engineering. In 1992 the Engineering & Society program began.

The Faculty of Engineering began joint faculty appointments, research associates and collaborative research activities with McMaster's Faculty of Health Sciences. Courses in Biomedical-Engineering were offered as electives in all engineering programs.

In 1997, the Faculty of Engineering began a joint venture with the Department of Engineering Technology at Mohawk College and created the Bachelor of Technology program.

Heather Sheardown, Acting Dean (2021-)

Deans of Engineering

Since the strong founding vision of John W. Hodgins, the Faculty has enjoyed equally strong leadership and an organized succession through its deans.

Dean Years served
Heather Sheardown (Acting) 2021-
Ishwar K. Puri 2013-2021
David S. Wilkinson 2008-2012
Mo Elbestawi 2001-2007
Mamdouh Shoukri 1994-2001
Gary R. Purdy 1989-1994
Arthur C. Heidebrecht 1981-1989
John W. Bandler 1979-1981
Leslie W. Shemilt 1969-1979
John W. Hodgins 1958-1969

History

  • Faculty of Engineering born in 1958
  • First 25 students graduate 
  • New Departments: Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Metallurgical and Engineering Physics 
  • McMaster Engineering Society began in 1959
  • McMaster Nuclear Reactor: the first university-based nuclear reactor in the British Commonwealth
  • “Fireball” designed based on the heraldic emblem “gurgles enflamed” shown on the Arms of Hamilton College
  • Camp 13 established, wardens overview of Kipling Day
  • Fireball Formal Dance initiated
  • Faculty quadruples (+100 graduates)
  • Engineering & Management program introduced (1st grads in 1975)
  • First bioengineering courses
  • First female MES President, Susan Sproule
  • On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of engineering, John Hodgins Engineering building was so named after first dean, John W. Hodgins
  • Courses in bio-engineering were offered as electives in all engineering programs (Eng phys, Chem and Electrical profs with joint research projects led the way)
  • Institute of Materials Research, later renamed the Brockhouse Institute of Materials Research in honour of Nobel laureate Dr. B. Brockhouse
  • Faculty doubles (+200 graduates) 
  • Computer Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering programs launched 
  • Communication Research Laboratory opens, lead by Simon Haykin
  • MacEngineer newsletter launched
  • McMaster’s centennial year 4500 total engineering graduates
  • Hodgins Memorial Lecture began
  • Engineering & Society program introduced
  • New Computing & Software department
  • Venture program for youth begins
  • B.Tech. Degree Completion Program launched 
  • MES launched the McMaster Laboratory Advancement Benefaction (macLAB) – lab equipment endowment fund
  • Engineering Musical launched
  • School of Engineering Practice and Technology founded with a gift from alumnus Walter G. Booth
  • Faculty expands; John Hodgins Engineering Annex, McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute, Engineering Information Technology Building, McMaster Steel Research Centre
  • LEAP Summer Academy for secondary school students begins
  • World’s most advanced and powerful microscope unveiled at McMaster Engineering’s Canadian Centre of Electron Microscopy
  • LEED Gold Certified Engineering Technology Building opened 
  • B.Tech. Four Year Bachelor of Technology Program launched 
  • Celebrated 50th anniversary in 2008
  • First grads from Department of Computing and Software
  • Gerald Hatch Centre for Engineering Experiential Learning opened
  • Launch of new Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences program
  • Launch of McMaster Automotive Resource Centre
  • Launch of new Innovation Minor in collaboration with the DeGroote School of Business and The Forge 
  • Launch of MacChangers, a co-curricular program that pairs multidisciplinary teams with community partners to propose innovative solutions to local challenges
  • Celebrated 60th anniversary in 2018
  • Launch of The Pivot in 2019, a transformation of engineering education focused on experiential learning inside and outside the classroom
  • Led by McMaster Engineering, McMaster University becomes the first university to offer digital degrees
  • Donna Strickland, a McMaster alumna who received her Bachelor of Engineering degree (BEng) in engineering physics in 1981, has won the Nobel Prize in Physics, the first woman to do so in 55 years and one of only three in the history of the award
  • Fall 2020: Launch of the Integrated Cornerstone Design Project in Engineering program, a full-year project-based experience where students are exposed to a series of design podcasts that develop both technical and professional skills

Donna Strickland

Bachelor of Engineering in Physics (BEng), 1981

Donna Strickland, a McMaster alumna who received her Bachelor of Engineering degree (BEng) in engineering physics in 1981, has won the Nobel Prize in Physics, the first woman to do so in 55 years and one of only three in the history of the award.

Related News: Donna Strickland

McMaster Engineering alumna wins Nobel Prize in Physics

October 2, 2018

McMaster Engineering alumna wins Nobel Prize in Physics

Donna Strickland, a McMaster alumna who received her Bachelor of Engineering degree (B. Eng) in engineering physics in 1981, has won the Nobel Prize in Physics, the first woman to do so in 55 years and one of only three in the history of the award.

Alumna Donna Strickland reflects on engineering physics, McMaster and the whirlwind of winning a nobel prize

September 30, 2019

Alumna Donna Strickland reflects on engineering physics, McMaster and the whirlwind of winning a nobel prize

Nobel Laureate and McMaster Engineering alumna Donna Strickland doesn’t consider herself an inspiration.

Nobel laureate Donna Strickland among 12 distinguished figures to be honored with honorary degrees at Spring Convocation Ceremonies

May 9, 2019 / Source: Daily News

Nobel laureate Donna Strickland among 12 distinguished figures to be honored with honorary degrees at Spring Convocation Ceremonies

Donna Strickland, who earned her undergraduate degree in Engineering Physics at McMaster and went on to earn the 2018 Nobel Prize for Physics, is to receive an honorary doctoral degree at McMaster’s Spring Convocation ceremonies.

National Awards

McMaster University researchers are recipients of prestigious Canadian awards.

Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering

Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering

Fellows of the Academy are nominated and elected by their peers, in view of their distinguished achievements and career-long service to the engineering profession.

 

Order of Canada

Order of Canada

The Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. 

 

Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

Election to fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) is the highest distinction for scientists, artists, and scholars in Canada.

 

University Awards

Our faculty members are consistently recognized for their work by the University.

Distinguished University Professors

Awarded to those who have made a distinguished contribution to the University through research, scholarship and/or education and demonstrate exceptional achievement by distinction in research, scholarship and education such that the work has made a major impact on a given field of study, and/or the work has had a major impact across disciplinary boundaries.

President’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning

The President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning demonstrates the value McMaster attaches to its educational function and recognizes those who, through innovation and commitment, have significantly enhanced the quality of their students’ learning experience. 

McMaster Students Union Award for Excellence in Teaching

The MSU Teaching Awards recognize and encourage excellence in teaching at McMaster University, by acknowledging the contributions and hard work of professors and teaching assistants.  In a ceremony on March 20 in Council Chambers, some of the finest educators at McMaster were honoured by their students.

President's Awards for Outstanding Service

The President's Awards for Outstanding Service provide an annual recognition for employees or groups of employees who have made an outstanding contribution to the mission of McMaster University beyond that normally expected for their position.

Faculty Awards

L.W. Shemilt Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award

Established in 2006 to recognize the contributions of leading Faculty alumni.

Faculty of Engineering Entrepreneurship Award

Established in 2017, the award will be granted occasionally as merit warrants.

Faculty of Engineering Exceptional Service Award

Established in 2017, the award will be granted occasionally as merit warrants.

Faculty of Engineering Leadership Award

Established in 2004 to recognize an outstanding citizen who has contributed to engineering, the university and the community.

Faculty of Engineering Research Achievement Award

Established in 2010 to honour a faculty member whose accomplishments and contributions are of national and/or international significance and/or have had a transformative impact on their field of research endeavour.

Faculty of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award

Established in 2012, this award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary teaching practices. 

Distinguished Engineering Professor in Residence

Distinguished Engineering Fellows

Distinguished Engineering Fellows acknowledges outstanding rising scholars who have the potential to be internationally recognized for being research and learning focused, and student centred. 

Distinguished Engineering Professors

Distinguished Engineering Professors acknowledges leading internationally recognized scholars who show evidence of transformative scholarship that is research focused and student centred.

Distinguished Engineering Educators

Distinguished Engineering Educators acknowledges outstanding student centred teachers who are recognized not only for their contributions in the classroom and their interactions with students but also for transformative pedagogical improvements.

Dean's Teaching Honour Roll

The Dean of Engineering has established the Dean’s Teaching Honour Roll to acknowledge the top teaching instructors each academic year. 

Dean’s Doctoral Mentoring Honour Roll

The Dean of Engineering has established the Dean’s Doctoral Mentoring Honour Roll to acknowledge the top mentors each academic year.

Veronika Czerneda Staff Award

An annual recognition of Faculty of Engineering staff members who have made an outstanding contribution beyond the normal expectations will be honoured.

Applause & Accolades

The annual Applause and Accolades Awards Gala recognizes engineering excellence among our distinguished alumni, faculty, staff and students, as well as influential community and corporate leaders.

2019 Applause & Accolades

2019 Applause & Accolades

Andre Phillion appointed McMaster Engineering Faculty Leadership Fellow

Jamal Deen named to the Order of Canada

Shiva Kumar elected as a Fellow of the Optical Society (FOSA)

Gail Krantzberg have been named to the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board

Ishwar Puri appointed as member of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Gianluigi Botton takes on new directorship position with the Canadian Light Source

Thomas Adams named a University Scholar

Steve Hranilovic appointed as acting Associate Dean, Academic

Mark Lawford appointed as Acting Chair, Department of Computing and Software

Mostafa Soliman received the McMaster Student Union (MSU) Teaching Awards

Kathryn Grandfield & Colin McDonald received the Faculty of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award

Michael Justason  received the President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching & Learning

Amber Bukata received President's Award for Outstanding Service

Lianna Genovese, Laura Carter and Alex Yeh took home top prizes in the National Design Award for Accessibility in the 2018-2019 Universities Canada Innovative Design for Accessibility (IDeA) competition with their project, The Painter's Guide

MERGE takes first place at CAN-RGX competition

Gamal Eldeeb announced as the winner of the Transport Canada Scholarship

McMaster EcoCar project was featured on CTV news as they participate in a four-year competition that will challenge them to re-engineer a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer

May Haggag, Mostafa Naiem Abdel-Mooty and Ahmed Gondia secured all the top 3 prizes in the Objective Resilience student paper competition, co-organized by Caltech in Pasadena, California

Haleigh Longo has received the Albert Lager Prize 

Alyssia Jovellanos has received the President's Award of Excellence in Student Leadership 

Liza-Anastasia DiCecco was awarded the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 

Abraham Omorogbe & Noelle Wilton both won Co-op Student of the Year Award

Matthew Campea took home first place in the Three Minute Thesis Competition

Anastasia Soukhov wins Women in Transportation Award

The Forge McMaster announces $100k to Student Startup Competition winners