Two researchers recognized as ‘emerging leaders’

Two researchers at Waterloo Engineering have been recognized by a prestigious national organization for emerging scientific leaders.

Zhongwei Chen and John Tze Wei Yeow were named today to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada.

A chemical engineering professor, Canada Research Chair in advanced materials for clean energy and member of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, Chen leads a team of researchers developing new materials to make batteries and fuel cells smaller, lighter and longer-lasting.

His team’s low-cost silicon batteries have potential application in everything from smartphones to electric cars.

Also a member of the nanotechnology institute, Yeow is a professor of systems design engineering and Canada Research Chair in advanced micro/nano devices.

He is developing nanodevices - machines that work on a molecular level - and highly selective sensors to help create new medical instruments to diagnose and treat diseases including cancer.

Both men were selected by a peer-review panel of society fellows and college members, who were described in congratulatory letters from society president Maryse Lassonde as “Canada’s senior collegium of scholars, artists and scientists.”

Also selected for membership in the college was philosophy professor John Turri, bringing the number of new members from the University of Waterloo to three.

With a mandate to recognize intellectual achievement, the society has elected about 80 fellows a year since 1882. Since 2014, it has also recognized a similar number of emerging leaders with membership in the college.

Chen, Yeow, Turri and other members of the 2016 cohort will be formally inducted to seven-year terms at a Nov. 18 ceremony and banquet in Kingston.