Professor Tom Chau has been inducted as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). He is one of nine professors and alumni from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and 50 engineers across Canada to be inducted this year.
The CAE is a national institution through which Canada’s most distinguished and experienced engineers provide strategic advice on matters of critical importance to Canada. The new CAE fellows were inducted on June 26 in Ottawa, as part of the Academy’s Annual General Meeting and Symposium.
In addition to his role as a U of T biomedical engineering professor, Chau is also a senior scientist and the vice-president of research at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. He leads the Paediatric Rehabilitation Intelligent Systems Multidisciplinary (PRISM) Lab to develop assistive technologies that give children and youth with severe physical limitations the ability to communicate independently.
Chau created the award-winning Virtual Music Instrument, which allows individuals with disabilities to express themselves through music. Additionally, he has pioneered optical brain-computer interfaces which allow non-verbal individuals to communicate through thought alone. Chau is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and the recipient of several awards. In 2011, he was named one of 25 Transformational Canadians by The Globe and Mail.
“The Academy’s recognition of so many faculty and alumni attests to the tremendous contributions U of T Engineers are making in Canada and around the world,” said Dean Cristina Amon. “It also demonstrates their impact in all aspects of the engineering profession — from engineering education to fundamental research to technology transfer, commercialization and consulting.”