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Researchers
receive
Petro-Canada awards
Petro-Canada awards
Dr.
Serpil Kocabiyik
Dr. Serpil
Kocabiyik, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics
and Statistics, and Dr. Len Zedel, an assistant professor in
the Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, have been
named as recipients of the Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award.
Dr. Kocabiyik’s research project is in fluid dynamics and
focuses on the impact of the unsteady flow of fluids around a
cylindrical body. This project is of significant importance in
the field of ocean engineering and is used to accurately predict
the design life of cylindrical offshore structures and to help
refine offshore designs.
Dr. Len Zedel
Dr. Zedel
is undertaking a research project to field test Doppler sonar
systems optimized to measure the speed of swimming fish. Doppler
sonar systems are routinely used to measure ocean currents but
these existing systems actually eliminate the acoustic signature
of fish. In the long term, it is hoped that this application
of Doppler sonar technology will provide fisheries managers with
a better view of changing fish populations and distributions.
Petro-Canada created this national awards program to help support
Canada’s “brain gain” by attracting, recognizing,
promoting and supporting outstanding and innovative young faculty
researchers. With $4.3 million invested to date in 22 learning
institutes across the country the Petro-Canada Young Innovator
Awards Program is fast building a strong and talented alumni
of some of Canada’s brightest young minds.
Commenting on the awards, Dr. Christopher Loomis, acting vice-president
(research and international relations), extended his congratulations
on behalf of the university.
“We are very pleased that both Drs. Kocabiyik and Zedel
have received this award and commend them for their dedication
and hard work,” Dr. Loomis said. “It is heartening
to see companies like Petro-Canada making serious contributions
to basic and applied research at Memorial.”
Gary Bruce, Petro-Canada’s vice-president of Offshore Development
and Operations, said Memorial has a reputation as one of Canada’s
best universities in the areas of marine and ocean research.
“We are enormously proud of our affiliation with them and
of the opportunity to make an impact through our funding of faculty
research. The contribution of both Dr. Kocabiyik and Dr. Zedel
is an example of the high calibre of innovation and initiative
found at Memorial. We congratulate both award recipients and
wish them success in their research projects.”