Submitted by Elena Gonzalez on Wed, 03/02/2021 - 16:58
Chemical engineering alumnus Dr John R. Grace has received the 'Hall of Fame' Award from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Launched in 2011 the Hall of Fame Award at UBC recognises members of their community who have made exceptional lasting contributions to society, the University and the department through their engineering scholarship.
John Grace was inducted as a new member at an award ceremony on 29 January recognising his contributions and accomplishments. A plaque in his name will also be placed on the CHBE Hall of Fame wall in the atrium of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Building at UBC.
“Recognition coming from people one has worked with is particularly gratifying. I am very pleased to receive this award from a Chemical and Biological Engineering Department that is growing in importance, as well as in size,” John commented.
Sir David Harrison, former member of CEB Faculty and John Grace’s PhD supervisor during his time at CEB, shares his recollections of Dr Grace:
“I have known John for over 50 years and I was his PhD supervisor during 1965-68 in the Chemical Engineering Department in Cambridge. He came to the UK with support from an Athlone Fellowship and the National Research Council of Canada. In Cambridge he joined King’s College and he and Sherrill lived in college accommodation in the heart of the city near both the College and the Department.
His highly successful dissertation was entitled ‘The behaviour of baffled and unbaffled Fluidised beds’; a field of work that was to influence much of his academic life. His research was beautifully presented and it was particularly notable that he was able to report, as he submitted the final text of his work, that most was already on its way to publication. John also had another talent and that was a command of the English language to a degree unusual in Engineering graduate students.
Altogether therefore I came to know and much enjoy the company of a very fine graduate student already on course for a distinguished university career. Many congratulations John.”
CEB would like to join Sir David in congratulating John on this notable achievement.