Aleksander Czekanski, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University, has been named president of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) for the 2022-24 term.
The CSME aims to advance the quality and scope of mechanical engineering in Canada. It also aims to co-operate with and aid all levels of government and their regulatory bodies on matters concerned with or involving the use of engineering technology. In addition, the society collaborates with universities and other educational institutions to advance the relevance and effectiveness of mechanical engineering education at all levels, among other objectives.
In his role as CSME president, Czekanski will support the continued growth of the CSME and ensure the current and future success of all initiatives. “I am honoured to be serving the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering as president,” says Czekanski. “I have a long history with the CSME and hope to make a strong contribution to the positive impact we can make in Canada.”
Czekanski previously served as part of the CSME in various capacities including:
- CSME Student National Design Competition Chair (2014-19)
- CSME Congress Chair at York University (2018)
- CSME congresses committee Chair (2018-21)
- CSME technical committee Chair – Manufacturing (2018-22)
- CSME senior vice-president (2020-22)
Czekanski is the past NSERC Chair in Design Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Previously, he was engineering manager of Advanced Engineering Analyses and Materials at Magna Mechatronics, a tier-one automotive global parts supplier.
His research ranges from developing new advanced manufacturing processes and materials to simulating AM processes, functionally graded materials, and soft materials. These activities include the design of 3D-printed parts, finite element modeling, and material characterization. This research has new applications for automotive, aerospace, and bioengineering innovation.
In 2020 he was awarded the NSERC CREATE initiative, “Additive Manufacturing: Engineering Design and Global Entrepreneurship.” Czekanski is the recipient of many honours and awards, including the prestigious NSERC Gold Medal Doctoral Award, the Faculty Innovation Award (Established Researcher), the President’s University-Wide Teaching Award and the Robert W. Angus Medal as well as being named a Fellow of the CSME, Engineering Institute of Canada and the Canadian Engineering Education Association.