Awards
2008 summit award® recipients
the community service award
Dr. V.S.V. Raj Rajan, P.Eng.
This award is presented to Members of APEGGA in recognition of an outstanding contribution they have made to society.
Dr. Raj Rajan, P.Eng., has been a dedicated volunteer serving our community for more than a quarter century. As a chemical engineer at the Alberta Research Council (ARC) since 1982, Dr. Rajan has worked on a variety of heavy oil and oil sands projects. Most recently, he has been involved in the AERI/ARC Core Industry Research Program which was the recipient of the 2007 Syncrude /ASTech Innovation in Oil Sands Research Prize. He was a research engineer at the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment of AECL in Pinawa, Manitoba for nine years prior to joining ARC. Dr. Rajan is a co-inventor with seven patents.
Despite a demanding career, Dr. Rajan contributes to his professional community as an extremely active volunteer with APEGGA and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). He has served on APEGGA's Edmonton Membership Liaison, Honours and Awards and Education committees. He currently serves as the APEGGA representative on the University of Alberta Engineering Faculty Council and as a member of APEGGA’s Practice Review Board and the APEGGA Education Foundation’s Board of Directors. In 1996, he received APEGGA's Voluntary Service Award in recognition of his extensive service.
Focusing not only on today's professionals, but also on building the skills
of tomorrow's leaders, Dr. Rajan dedicates considerable amounts of time interacting
with, and mentoring, prospective science and engineering students. In addition
to being a registered mentor in both APEGGA and SPE, he volunteers with APEGGA's
Outreach Program, sits on the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s
Chemical Engineering Technology Curriculum Advisory Board and judges science
fairs and events at the Edmonton Science Olympics. Dr. Rajan has set a $600 annual
scholarship for chemical engineering students at the University of New Brunswick,
Fredericton, where he received his PhD in 1970.
Tireless in his community contributions, Dr. Rajan was active in Economic Development
Edmonton’s Engineering and Technical Services cluster and is now a member-at-large
of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation’s Architecture, Engineering
and Construction cluster. He is a regular blood donor and a volunteer for the
Alberta Lung Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Taoist Tai Chi Society
and the Terry Fox Run. His motto is “help all in need of help”. He
shares his love of reading, arts and culture as a private instructor of Indian
classical music at no cost to students, assisting at a local Hindu Temple, helping
at community concerts, and co-editing the English translation of two Web-based
books on South Indian classical music. He also established an annual $500 scholarship
in the Department of Music at the University of Alberta in memory of his parents.
Honours, Awards and Distinctions
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Co-recipient (AACI Research Team), Syncrude /ASTech Innovation in Oil Sands Research Team Prize (2007)
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ARC Contribution to Community Award (2006; 2003; 2001)
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APEGGA Voluntary Service Award (1996)
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ARC Technology Transfer Award (1991)
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Best Paper Award, CJChE, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (1989)
Professional Affiliations and Activities
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APEGGA
– Board of Directors, APEGGA Education Foundation (2005-present; Treasurer 2007-2008)
– Volunteer, Outreach Program (2005-2007; 2002-2003)
– Member, Practice Review Board (2002-present)
– Representative, University of Alberta Engineering Faculty Council (1999-present)
– Member, Chair, Education Committee (1995-1998; Chair 1997-1998)
– Member, Honours and Awards Committee (1992-1995)
– Member, Edmonton Member Liaison Committee (1989-1992)
– Member, University of Alberta Student Liaison Committee (1989-1990)
– Member, APEGGA (1983-present) -
Member, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (2006-present)
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Warden, Corporation of Seven Wardens Camp 6 (2003-present)
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Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers (1986-present; Chair, Edmonton Section 1991-1992)
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Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (1969-present)
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Member, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (1967-present; Treasurer, Edmonton Section 1989-1990)
Community Service
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Volunteer, Western Canada Summer Games, Strathcona County (2007)
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Member, Parents’ Liaison and Strategic Planning Committees, Sherwood Park School (1996-1997; 1989-1990; 1984)
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Treasurer, Sherwood Park Minor Hockey Association (1995-1997)
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Chair, ARC United Way Campaign (1992)
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President, ARC Bitumarcs Toastmasters’ Club (1989)
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President, ARC Professional Staff Association (1986)