Message from the Dean

A new magazine. A new energy degree.

It is my pleasure to share with you our revamped alumni magazine. As a result of your feedback, we have made substantial changes. Everything is new (with the exception of a few of your favourites, including the Dean’s Message and Faculty/ Alumni/Student News Pages). I would like to draw your attention in particular to the “Class Notes” section on page 14. We very much hope that you will send us your important updates and keep this section growing with each issue.
For the inaugural issue of our transformed magazine, we have focused on groundbreaking
research in energy. Everything in life touches on this important topic and, not unintentionally, so does much of what we as Engineers do every day.

In the pages that follow, we illustrate important examples of how our alumni are making a significant impact on the world through their leading energy research. From revolutionizing the oil industry by reducing energy consumption by 50 per cent, to finding a low-cost and environmentally friendly way to harvest sunlight and convert it into electricity, Skule™ alumni from around the globe are answering the world’s most pressing energy and sustainability questions.
I would like to announce one of the many initiatives in which we are working to keep the Skule™ experience unique and leading-edge. Beginning in the Fall of 2008, we will be offering an Energy Systems Option in the Engineering Science curriculum. This new energy program will be unique in Canada and will offer a combination of traditional and non-traditional energy technologies along with a systems planning approach. It will emphasize tradeoffs and efficiencies in integrated systems, rather than standalone technologies, while also varying the perspective from policy to the environment. We are very excited about this new energy degree and look forward to fostering its growth and seeing it flourish.

On behalf of the Skulematters Editorial Board, we hope that you enjoy this magazine and we continue to welcome your feedback so that this publication is one that you are proud to share with your non-Skule™ friends.

Cristina Amon
Dean and Professor