In Memoriam

Professor Robert Jervis, 1927 - 2014

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry is sad to announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Robert E. Jervis on his 87th birthday on May 21st. Professor Jervis was a highly accomplished and respected member of our Department, truly a Canadian pioneer with international impact in the field of applied nuclear chemistry. More than that, he was a kind and generous man who led by example with compassion for everyone he met. His genuine love of science and engineering inspired his students and colleagues alike. He will be missed by those who had the pleasure of working with him and learning from him. 

Professor Jervis was born in Toronto and raised during the depression years. He attained an undergraduate degree in Math, Physics and Chemistry in 1949, an M.A. in 1950 and a PhD in Physical Chemistry in 1952, all from the University of Toronto. He subsequently worked at the Chalk River nuclear research facility pioneering novel methods of trace element analysis in the environment by applied nuclear chemistry.

Professor Jervis joined the U of T Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry in 1958, where he continued his research in applied analytical and environmental chemistry for the next five decades. His work focused on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in industry, life sciences and forensic sciences. He gained significant national and international recognition for his work on human exposure to heavy metals, which increased awareness of their environmental and health impacts. He also played a dominant role in applying activation techniques in Canada and abroad. 

A field in which Professor Jervis was a pioneer was the use of trace elements to identify sources of pollution and to assess the environmental impact of fossil fuel combustion. He also developed this technique for use in forensics, using trace elements in hair as bioindicators of exposure to environmental pollutants. This technique was used to study arsenic levels in gold miners, mercury in aboriginal people and lead in urban children. Read more about Professor Jervis' accomplishments.

The family will receive friends at the Ogden Funeral Home (4164 Sheppard Ave East, Scarborough) on Sunday, May 25, 2014 from 3-7 p.m. Funeral service will take place in the Ogden Chapel on Monday, May 26, 2014 at 1 p.m. Interment at Pine Hills Cemetery.

May 23, 2014

In this issue:

Departmental Offices
Announcements
Chem Eng Events

In the News

Michael Sefton Wins 2014 Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award

Congratulations to University Professor Michael Sefton (ChemE, IBBME) who has received the 2014 Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award, which is presented to an exceptional professional engineer for achievement and distinction in engineering.

Professor Sefton received the award in recognition of his pioneering work in combining living cells with synthetic polymers to create ‘artificial’ organs and tissues, a field now known as tissue engineering. He was also one of the first in the world to succeed in micro-encapsulating live cells, with the aim of creating an artificial pancreas and other tissues that could evade the patient's immune system through the barrier of the encapsulating membrane. His current groundbreaking research into the creation of modular tissue components seeks to create cardiac muscle to treat heart failure and pancreatic tissue for diabetes, among other possibilities.

An international leader in the areas of biomedical engineering, biomaterials and regenerative medicine, Professor Sefton was among the first to demonstrate the significant synergy between chemical engineering principles and biomedical engineering. Read more about Professor's Sefton's work.

Departmental Offices

Announcements

Chem Eng 8-Ball Shootout

CEGSA is hosting the 1st ever Chem Eng 8-Ball Shootout at the Annex Billiards Club (507 Bloor St W) on Wednesday, June 11. Our very own Master's student Sam Huang is one of the top players in the city, and will give a brief lesson on the basics of pool. Check out Sam's amazing skills in his YouTube video! Sam's lesson will start at 5:30 pm, the tournament will start around 6pm.

All skill levels are welcome and there is no cost to play in the tournament; however, a $5 deposit is required and will be returned to you at the event. There will be prizes (details coming soon)! To register, email Sam at xianmenghuang@gmail.com with your name, email and phone number, and your partner's name, if you have one. Once registered, please find Sam in WB321 and give him the $5 deposit.

Engineering Pride & Diversity Panel and Reception

On the occassion of World Pride 2014, which is being hosted by the City of Toronto in June, the U of T Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering is hosting the Engineering Pride & Diversity Panel and Reception on Wednesday, June 25, 5:30pm - 8:30pm. This first-of-its-kind event will focus on LGBTQ experiences in the engineering profession and will be moderated by alumnus Paul Cadario, U of T Distinguished Senior Fellow in Global Engineering. Panel members include professors, distinguished alumni and current students. Registration is required, visit the event site to register.

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CHEM ENG NEWS is a weekly summary of news, events and opportunities for students, faculty and staff of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry. If you have questions or comments, please contact: external.chemeng@utoronto.ca. Catch up on missed issues by visiting our archive.