ASTech’s 2000 Winners – ASTech Awards

The Islet Transplantation Group at the University of Alberta, was recognized with the Outstanding Leadership In Alberta Science Award for revolutionizing diabetes treatment with the development of the Edmonton Protocol. Garnering global recognition for this groundbreaking work led by Dr. James Shapiro (2001 Governor General’s Gold Medal Award Winner, Government of Canada) this protocol, which involves transplanting healthy islets into diabetic patients, has enabled many patients over the last 20 years to regain control of their blood glucose levels without daily insulin injections, leading to improved quality of life and reduced risk of complications associated with the disease.

Dr. Jan Czarnecki, winner of the Innovation in Oil Sands Research Award, was an expert at Syncrude Research in colloidal and interfacial science, applying his extensive knowledge to bitumen extraction. With a distinguished career spanning academia and industry in Poland and Canada, Dr. Czarnecki has significantly influenced oil sands research through his publications and collaboration with the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Oil Sands at the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta.

The Edmonton Space & Science Centre (renamed the Telus World of Science Edmonton in 2005) was recognized with the Excellence In Science And Technology Public Awareness award for its extensive impact on science education. Recognized nationally and internationally, the centre engages hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Starting as the Queen Elizabeth Planetarium in 1960, the new building by Douglas Cardinal opened in 1984, commemorating the Province of Alberta’s 75th Anniversary. Today, celebrating it’s 40th anniversary, the TELUS World of Science continues to build community, ignite curiosity, inspire discovery, celebrate science, and change lives.

The Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology Award recipient, Mr. Larry J. Comeau, president of Computalog significantly influenced the oilfield technology sector, through his leadership roles, which included Precision Drilling Corporation. Under his guidance, the Nisku-based Downhole Tool Development Group became a leader in oilfield technologies, increasing exports to over $50 million by 1997. He holds 21 patents and was key in pioneering multilateral drilling systems and measurement-while-drilling sensors.

Dr. Prem Kharbanda, honoured for Innovation in Agricultural Sciences, for his role in curbing the spread of blackleg disease in Alberta’s canola crops, averting potential economic losses valued in the hundreds of millions. His comprehensive disease prevention program included monitoring, seed testing, and producer education, coupled with the development of the Blackleg Alert Kit™ and a novel bacterium that suppresses the disease. Dr. Kharbanda’s research is acclaimed nationally and internationally, evidenced by his authorship of over 175 scientific reports and his 2008 induction into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame. Dr. Kharbanda served as emeritus scientist at Alberta Innovates.

Dr. Rita Aggarwala, winner of the Leaders of Tomorrow award for significantly contributing to her field with several published works and co-authoring a book aimed at enhancing the analytical capabilities of statistical practitioners. At age 28, she became an associate professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Calgary. After these notable accomplishments, Dr. Aggarwala pursued a career in law and is now practicing in Calgary, where she acts as Independent Legal Counsel to administrative decision-makers.

Matrikon was recognized with the Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology The company’s innovative process control services and products, ProcessNet and ProcessDoc, facilitated enterprise-wide data accessibility and analysis to prevent costly operational issues. Founded by Nizar Somji, an engineer from Nova Chemicals (near Red Deer), Matrikon grew their offices in Edmonton – expanding to 16 locations worldwide and over 400 employees, supporting industrial university chairs at the University of Alberta and in Australia. Matrikon became part of Honeywell in 2010. Mr. Somji continues as an entrepreneur, and is chancellor of the University of Alberta.

Mr. David Mitchell, recognized with the ASTech Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Alberta Science and Technology Community, initiated the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation to honour Canadian innovators, becoming one of Canada’s most esteemed recognition programs in science and technology. Mitchell started the Alberta Energy Company (later renamed to Encana), turning it into one of Canada’s leading oil and gas exploration firms. Beyond his corporate achievements, Mitchell’s extensive community involvement includes serving as an officer of Junior Achievement, leading fundraising campaigns, and contributing to educational and professional organizations, for which he has received numerous leadership and service awards, including the Order of Canada.

Additional 2000 Winners Include:

Calgary-based Mentor Engineering Inc., the award winner for Industrial Research – Southern Alberta, significantly advanced the field of wireless data and GPS solutions for fleet and mobile worker management. Expanding from humble beginnings in 1990, the company operated globally, with systems across North America, Australia, and Europe becoming an innovation leader in passenger transport In 2013, Mentor was acquired by the Trapeze Group.
Edmonton-based SRW Technologies, recipient of the award for Industrial Research – Northern Alberta, developed abrasion-resistant materials crucial for the oil sands and mining sectors. Thanks to advanced robotic machinery, the company enhanced tool longevity by up to six times using a unique plasma-transferred arc welding system, the only such technology in North America at the time. In 2005, Weir ESCO acquired SRW Technologies.