Awards
summit award® recipients
THE FRANK SPRAGINS
TECHNICAL AWARD
Dr. Murray R. Gray, P.Eng.
This award is presented to Members of APEGGA who are recognized by their peers for their integrity and expertise and for their outstanding accomplishments in fields related to engineering, geology or geophysics.
Dr. Murray R. Gray, P.Eng., received his B.A.Sc. with honours from the University of Toronto in 1978 and his PhD from Cal Tech in 1984. He joined the University of Alberta in 1983 as an Assistant Professor and quickly rose to the rank of Professor. From 1990-1993 he was Chair of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering. He was also Dean of Graduate Studies from 1994-1998, Director of the Alberta Centre for Surface Engineering and Science from 2002-2005 and has been the Director of the Imperial Oil Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oilsands Innovation since 2005. Dr. Gray also held the Syncrude/NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Advanced Upgrading of Bitumen from 2000-2005 and was appointed Canada Research Chair in Oil Sands Upgrading in 2006.
He has won numerous awards, including the Syncrude Innovation Award for distinguished contributions to the field of Chemical Engineering before reaching the age of 40. He also excels in teaching both within and outside of the university. Dr. Gray is often invited to give keynote and plenary lectures, and he has delivered workshops about his research in Brazil, France, Japan and Norway.
An accomplished researcher, Dr. Gray has published over 150 refereed journal papers, numerous conference presentations and book chapters. In 1994, his research monograph, Upgrading Petroleum Residues and Heavy Oils, was published. It has become the standard reference on the chemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics of heavy oil and bitumen processing.
Dr. Gray’s research also includes bioreactors and drug metabolism. He possesses a unique combination of skills in analytical chemistry and the modelling of kinetic mechanisms and a fundamental understanding of methods to characterize complex chemical mixtures, which are the common underlying principles governing such disparate areas as hydrocarbon upgrading and drug metabolism. His natural ability to interact easily with fellow researchers together with his clear vision of research targets, have been instrumental in the success of several large, collaborative, multidisciplinary research efforts spearheaded by Dr. Gray.
Honours, Awards and Distinctions
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Canada Research Chair in Oil Sands Upgrading (2006)
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Imperial Oil/NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Oil Sands Upgrading (2006)
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Award in Industrial Practice, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (2003)
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Syncrude/NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Advanced Upgrading of Bitumen (2000-2005)
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Killam Annual Professorship, U of A (2000)
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Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Faculty of Engineering, U of A (2000)
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Syncrude/ASTech Innovation in Oil Sands Research Prize (1997)
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Syncrude Innovation Award, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (1996)
Professional Affiliations and Activities
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Technical Program Chair, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering, Edmonton Conference 2007 (2006-present)
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Member, NSERC Policy Evaluation Committee (2005-present)
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Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering (2005)
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Chair, Alberta Ingenuity Post-Doctoral Fellowship Committee (2003-2006)
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Fellow, Engineering Institute of Canada (2003)
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Alberta Membership Chair, Governor General’s Canadian Study Conference (2000)
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President, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (1999-2000)
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Member, Adjudication Committee, Canadian Foundation for Innovation (1998-present)
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Fellow, Chemical Institute of Canada (1994)
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Member, APEGGA (1980-present)
This award is named for Mr. Frank Spragins, P.Eng., APEGGA President, 1975. Mr. Spragins was a driving force behind the Syncrude heavy oil sands project which is recognized as the largest industrial project ever to be undertaken in Canada. His personal qualities of vigour, imagination, courage and endurance, as well as his negotiating skills, were critical to its success.