November 2006 ISSUE
THE SUMMIT SERIES
From High School to Hallowed Halls:
Volunteering Never Loses Lustre
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DOUBLE DUTY |
BY FRANCINE MAXWELL
Editorial Assistant
What started out in high school as a willingness to help classmates with their homework may have helped Dr. Anil Mehrotra, P.Eng., become one of the most awarded professors at the University of Calgary. It may have also led to his win of this year’s L.C. Charlesworth Professional Service Summit Award.
Dr. Mehrotra has received at least seven teaching awards since he began at the University of Calgary in 1981. He was also inducted as a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada and received the APEGGA voluntary service award.
Still, Dr. Mehrotra is quick to note he didn’t get into his profession for awards, but rather because he loved the work.
“I am very satisfied about my decision to become an engineer. In high school,
and later as an undergraduate engineering student, I was always available for
explaining course material to my classmates. As a professor I get to interact
with young students and learners all the time.
“Frankly, it would take a lot of persuasion for someone to make me switch
my job for some other opportunity,” Dr. Mehrotra says.
And that satisfaction with his career has translated into not only the success he has had with his students, but also to his commitment to volunteering for his Association as well.
“APEGGA’s ability and success in regulating the EGGP Act depends
largely on the important contributions made by us, the engineering and geoscience
professionals, on a voluntary basis. I believe I continue to benefit personally
by developing new skills through my voluntary involvement.”
He’s not shy about living by those words, either. For more than 10 years
he has been an active academic examiner with the Board of Examiners. He takes
his voluntary role on the board seriously, committing up to three days a month
to ensuring that applicants meet academic and experience requirements
Dr. Mehrotra has also spent two years on the Nominating Committee, which puts up names of members it believes are well qualified to serve on APEGGA Council.
“My involvement with APEGGA committees has allowed me to meet and interact with a larger number of other dedicated engineers and geoscientists than I would otherwise. I continually learn so much from them,” Dr. Mehrotra says.
Aside from his voluntary duties with the Association, Dr. Mehrotra is also involved with other professional organizations. He has been a program visitor for three different visiting teams of the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. He has also represented APEGGA on a committee of the CEAB for developing the first national examination syllabus for environmental engineering.
And if that weren’t enough, he also serves as a reviewer for a number of scientific, engineering and professional journals, as well as an organizer of several international conferences.
Dr. Mehrotra began his career as a professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, at what now is named the Schulich School of Engineering. These days, his titles also include director of the school’s Centre for Environmental Engineering Research and Education. Under his guidance, the centre has become known for offering a post-graduate program in environmental engineering that features multiple disciplines.
For now, that’s enough.
“The main task at hand for me is the development, implementation and coordination of the newly introduced [to the centre] specialization in energy and environment, at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.”
As he says, the task is never about winning awards. Yet the L.C. Charlesworth Professional Service Award is not the only Summit Award that Dr. Mehrotra has won. In 2000, he won the inaugural Excellence in Education Award.
Dr. Mehrotra says he is in fine company, being one of a few dual Summit Award winners.
“To be recognized with the prestigious L.C. Charlesworth Professional Service Award is obviously a great honour. Together with the first Excellence in Education Summit Award, I am very proud to be in the distinguished company of a select few double recipients.”
The L.C. Charlesworth Professional Service Award is presented to members who have served their profession diligently for many years and made substantial contributions to the operation of the Association and the advancement of its professional status.