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Female Professor Named Chair in Heavy ConstructionHAMILTON, ON, May 30, 2011 … Heavy construction machinery may tower
above her but Saiedeh Razavi will wield a great deal of influence on
their future use as the inaugural Chair in Heavy Construction at
McMaster University.
Professor Razavi was officially named the chair holder at an
announcement held today at McMaster University. In attendance were
representatives from many of the 13 regional construction
organizations that pledged $1,252,500 million over five years to
establish the Chair. The amount is matched by the University.
Three other appointments were also formally announced to endowed
chairs previously established in the Department of Civil
Engineering:
• Prof. Samir Chidiac, Chair in Effective Design of Structures
(established 2002);
• Prof. Michael Tait, Joe Ng-JNE Consulting Chair in Design,
Construction and Management of Infrastructure Renewal (established
2000);
• Prof. Wael El-Dakhakhni, Martini, Mascarin and George Chair in
Masonry Design (established 1999).
Prof. Razavi begins her position on July 1. She joins McMaster from
Concordia University where she has been working as a postdoctoral
fellow. At McMaster, she will hold an academic appointment in the
Department of Civil Engineering with instruction responsibilities at
the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as with the
McMaster-Mohawk Bachelor of Technology civil engineering technology
program.
Prof. Razavi brings considerable experience in large scale
industrial construction projects to the position. She also has a
keen interest in sensing and information technology for construction
and infrastructure management, logistics, and transportation. She
earned her PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Waterloo,
M.Sc. in Computer Engineering (Artificial Intelligence) at Iran
University of Science and Technology, and B.Sc. in Software
Engineering at Sharif University of Technology.
The Chair in Heavy Construction was established to provide
leadership in advancing innovation in the heavy-construction sector,
attracting and developing talent, and contributing to the
advancement of a modern, durable and sustainable infrastructure in
Ontario. An advisory team from the heavy construction industry will
be assembled by the Chair to advise on priorities in these areas.
Organizations pledging funding for the Chair were: Hamilton &
District Heavy Construction Association, Ontario Road Builders’
Association, Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association,
John Deere Foundation, Ministry of Transportation Ontario,
L.I.U.N.A. Local 837, Mechanical Contractors Association Hamilton,
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 793, Bot
Construction, Ontario Concrete Pipe Association, Battlefield
Equipment, Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors
Association, and the Heavy Construction Association Toronto.posted: 5/30/2011
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