Canadians create stipend in the name of Swiss professor

A Canadian research group has created a scholarship in the name of Urs Meier of EMPA. EMPA

A scholarship for students to work on research in Canada has been named after a Swiss professor.

The honour has been given to Professor Urs Meier, of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (known here as EMPA).

The stipend, in the field of civil engineering and intelligent sensing for innovative structures, highlights the influence of the EMPA deputy director on the origin of the ISIS Canada Research Network.

The collaboration between Meier and the ISIS Canada Research Network started in 1988 with the visit of a delegation of Canadian professors of civil engineering to EMPA in Duebendorf, just outside of Zurich.

Meier admitted that he was rather “shocked” when he heard the news, according to the statement because in Switzerland this honour is usually reserved for scientists who have retired, or died.

The Canadian research network, known as ISIS, began work in 1995 in the field of adaptive material technology encouraged by Meier’s vision. It took on the task of supporting the civil engineering sector in Canada with new building materials and systems.

“Our work at that time on composite materials for use in civil engineering applications was, for the Canadians, a signpost to a new direction in research” remarked Meier in a statement issued by EMPA.

The scholarship is awarded to the researcher who presents the best idea for a project to ISIS. The winner of the stipend can chose to work at one of the 15 first class Canadian universities with which ISIS collaborates. In addition, he or she can count on the support of a network of 276 researchers and 33 full-time project leaders who are in close contact with 92 organizations drawn from the private sector.

by Valerie Thompson