Two Waterloo professors were elected today to the Royal Society of Canada’s class of 2025, the country’s highest academic honour.
Dr. Norman Zhou and Dr. John McPhee joined 102 new fellows and members recognized nationwide for outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievements. In total, six University of Waterloo researchers received the distinction.
Zhou, a mechanical and mechatronics engineering professor and Canada Research Chair in Advanced Materials Joining and Processing, is widely recognized for advancing materials science with more than 28,600 citations to his work. He has supervised over 50 graduate students and co-founded AquaSensing, a company developing sustainable leak-detection systems for industrial and health care applications.
McPhee, a systems design engineering professor and Canada Research Chair in Biomechatronic System Dynamics, is internationally recognized for pioneering graph-theoretic modelling to better understand and simulate complex multidisciplinary systems. Over his career, he has supervised more than 100 graduate students, authored nearly 500 publications and advanced technologies ranging from wearable robotic exoskeletons to AI-driven sports applications.
The Royal Society of Canada is delighted to welcome into its ranks a talented group of inspiring researchers, artists, and creators whose peers have recognized their exceptional contributions to the world of science and culture, as well as to the well-being of Canadians,” said Alain-G. Gagnon, president of the RSC, in a media release. “Their research will continue to influence public policy for years to come, while improving the well-being of our society.”
The RSC's class of 2025 will be honoured in November during the society's Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Montréal, Québec.
Go to RSC recognizes research excellence at Waterloo for the full story.