INNOVATION Sept-Oct 2019

DR. RISHI GUPTA, P.ENG., FEC TEACHING AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING AND GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION Dr. Rishi Gupta excels at combining teaching theory and practice, connecting academia to industry, and supporting individual students as well as the profession. The volume of support he has received from students and colleagues illustrates how he is the epitome of an outstanding teacher with an enormous impact. Recognizing the value industry experience and networking brings to new graduates, Rishi founded and maintains student chapters of various learned societies and professional associations. Students carry the culture of mentorship and engagement that Rishi has instilled in each chapter, demonstrating how the impact of his work reaches far beyond the classroom.Expanding traditional lab classes to include experiential learning and co-operative education work, Rishi’s teaching style at the University of Victoria ensures that his students are equipped with a thorough academic foundation and strengthened by hands-on practical experiences. Combining practice and theory helps to ensure better knowledge retention, creativity, and critical thinking—all of which benefit the students, the companies that hire them, and the communities they serve. Having received some of the highest teaching ratings in the faculty of engineering, as well as being honoured with multiple teaching awards, Rishi’s peers as well as former and current students recognize the significant

MEGAN PATE, P.ENG. YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARD From an award-winning University of British Columbia student to a leader beyond her years, Megan Pate serves as an exemplary model of what young engineers should aspire to be. Since joining the City of Vancouver, she has compiled an impressive record of accomplishments that extend beyond the duties related to her position. In her current role as Design Manager at the City of Vancouver, Megan is coordinating the design of municipal infrastructure including utilities, streets and transportation, electrical, and urban design elements for the $400-million Northeast False Creek Viaducts Replacement Project. In this role, she has shown leadership by providing guidance to 13 City branches involved in the review and acceptance of the complex infrastructure design. Her initiative and impact on the profession is illustrated through her consolidation of the City’s design standards. By consolidating the standards to provide clear and comprehensive specifications to both City staff and external contractors, Megan has ensured improvement to the delivery of construction projects within Vancouver. Megan’s professional development and career is on a trajectory that will see her emerge as a great leader and a true ambassador for professional engineering.

impact, teaching style, and exceptional service he provides to his students.

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