PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Great Inspirations
If you work in engineering or geoscience, chances are you’re surrounded by colleagues and role models who’ve inspired you. You might even think that their achievements, along with their dedication to their professions and the larger community, are worthy of being recognized. At the APEGA Summit Awards Gala, perhaps?
Inspiration arrives in many forms and many places. For Rizwan Al-Rahman, E.I.T., a major inspiration in his life showed up in the classroom, in the form of Dr. Pierre Mertiny, P.Eng., recipient of the 2015 Excellence in Education Summit Award. Mr. Al-Rahman was a student taking a second-year mechanical engineering design course at the University of Alberta, in the Faculty of Engineering. The respect Mr. Al-Rahman has for the professor, both as a teacher and a professional, was one of the reasons he wrote a letter supporting Dr. Mertiny’s nomination. “His passion for engineering and teaching was a great inspi- ration for me. He was a leader and mentor to me, both inside and outside the classroom. His level of energy got his students very engaged, often spellbound. We were all excited to be in his class.” Mr. Al-Rahman’s admiration only grew when he worked as a research assistant in Dr. Mertiny’s lab. “His knowledge, personality, and attitude make him a great teacher and supervisor. As a very curious person myself, I learned a lot from his technical know-how, working with him on research projects. That’s why I thought he should be recognized,” explains Mr. Al-Rahman.
A CHANCE TO REFLECT
At our annual Summit Awards Gala, APEGA celebrates the achievements of deserving professionals like Dr. Mertiny. The next gala will be held April 21, 2016, in Edmonton. If you know a Professional Engineer or Professional Geoscientist who deserves to be honoured, now is the time to complete the nomination. Deadline is October 15. See How to Nominate, page 48. Dr. Hasan Rizvi, P.Eng., reacted to a call for nominations like this one a few years ago. He thought Dr. Zainab Syed, P.Eng., of the Schulich School of Engineering, was a perfect candidate for the Early Achievement Summit Award, which she she did indeed receive at the 2012 Summit Awards Gala. As a professional, Dr. Rizvi was inspired by Dr. Syed’s research accomplishments at the University of Calgary’s Department of Geomatics Engineering, her success as an entrepreneur, and her generosity as a mentor to young girls interested in engineering. And as her uncle, he was just plain proud of her tenacity and determination. “She’s an accomplished scientist who has earned distinction as a student, mentor, leader, and entrepreneur. She’s contributed
to the world at large through her innovations and to the community through her volunteerism,” Dr. Rizvi says. For Dr. Syed, being honoured by APEGA and fellow professionals was an experience she’ll never forget. “It was a great feeling to have my work recognized by APEGA and celebrated by my peers.” Since receiving the award, Dr. Syed has continued to enjoy great success. The portable navigation system company she cofounded at the U of C was sold to a private firm last year for $36 million. She now works for the firm as the Director of Navigation Engineering.
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