Professor George Zhu at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering recently received a gold medal from the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) in recognition of his contributions to the field.
The Ontario Professional Engineers Awards honour first-class engineers and members of the OSPE who have made outstanding contributions to their field and broader community. The gold medal represents the highest honour, recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional public service, technical excellence and professional leadership.
“Receiving this award will help elevate my reputation among engineers nationally and internationally, while expanding my network and creating opportunities for collaboration with industry partners,” says Zhu.
This industry recognition is a testament to Zhu’s ingenuity and research impact. His ares of interest include spacecraft control and nanosatellite technologies, and he has received millions of dollars in funding from organizations such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Canadian Space Agency.
Currently, Zhu is focused on making access to space more cost-effective by using 3D printing to make spacecraft and other structures in outer space. His forward-thinking research has inspired other innovations, like using intelligent robots for space debris removal and tether systems for space transportation. His influential work has expanded the research capacity of Lassonde and attracted attention from broad scientific communities.
Zhu also co-directs Lassonde’s Manufacturing, Technology & Entrepreneurship Centre, an Organized Research Unit that blends three complementary disciplines to bring innovative technologies to market.
As a gold medal recipient, Zhu plans to build on this accolade by continuing to advance the field of engineering, build academic and industry partnerships, and drive impactful research to right the future.