Michael Tam wins the R.S. Jane Memorial Award
Professor Michael Tam has been named the 2025 recipient of the R.S. Jane Memorial Award by the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering (CSChE). The award is presented to a person who has made exceptional achievements in the field of chemical engineering or chemistry.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award, which reflects the hard work and contributions of the many talented students and researchers who have been part of my group since I began my academic journey in 1992,” Tam says.
Tam, a University Research Chair, is regarded as a pioneer and international leader in the fields of polymer colloids, surfactant-polymer interactions, nanomaterials, nanocellulose applications, and functional material science.
His research advances the development of sustainable nanomaterials for engineering applications in sectors such as cosmetics, personal and home care, agriculture, environmental remediation, and more.
Driven by a strong commitment to sustainability, his research group is tackling pressing societal challenges such as air and water pollution. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant shortcomings in current air filtration systems, particularly in hospitals and indoor environments where disease transmission is prevalent.
In response to this urgent challenge, Tam's team is developing sustainable air filtration technologies made from natural materials that effectively remove bacteria, viruses, and allergens from the air while maintaining a low pressure drop. In parallel, his research team is creating eco-friendly antimicrobial compounds aimed at minimizing infection and disease spread.
For water and wastewater treatment, cellulose nanocrystals are being used as efficient adsorbents to eliminate pollutants such as microplastics, dyes, heavy metals, and perfluorinated compounds.
Tam has designed a biomimetic surface engineering innovation for sustainable water harvesting that can deliver clean water to remote areas. His device can capture five liters of water per hour from the air. The technology is eco-friendly, energy-efficient and cost-effective.
His research on this invention has been highlighted by various media outlets, including BNN Bloomberg, CTV News, CBC Radio, and The Waterloo Record, drawing attention from leading industry partners. To date, five patents have been granted, and seven more patent disclosures have been filed for technologies developed in his laboratory.
Tam has authored and co-authored over 449 peer-reviewed research papers in leading journals. Tam was the Associate Editor of ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering from 2015-2023.
He now serves as the Deputy Editor of ACS Sustainable Resource Management, and his leadership role includes managing a team of editors and developing the journal's scope to establish it as the leading forum on sustainable research management.
Tam is a highly skilled mentor, having trained more than 98 graduate students, many of whom have achieved success in their careers. He also teaches undergraduate courses in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
Over the past six years, his research has attracted more than $5 million in funding. His impactful scientific contributions, combined with a strong commitment to training Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP), underscore his significant contributions to the field of chemical engineering.
As winner of the R.S. Jane Memorial Award, Tam has been invited to deliver a plenary lecture at the CSChE Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 8.