UNB Engineering News

Members of the University of New Brunswick department of civil engineering have recently been saluted nationally for their dedication and work.

Dr. Eric Hildebrand, Dr. Jeff Rankin and Dr. Peter Bischoff, all professors in UNB’s department of civil engineering, were recognized at the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers Annual Conference in Vancouver.

“I couldn’t be more pleased for Eric, Peter and Jeff – this is outstanding recognition for their incredible talent, passion and dedication,” says Chris Diduch, dean of engineering at UNB. “To have three of our own recognized nationally is a real badge of honour for our civil engineering department and a strong reflection of the calibre and strength of the engineering program at UNB."

“It’s no accident that some of our students were also singled out at the conference.”

Civil engineering students Diego Padilha and James Connors competed in the society’s national capstone design competition, earning fourth place out of 16 teams. The UNB Canadian Society of Civil Engineers student chapter also earned attention, receiving honourable mention for best chapter.

Outstanding contributions to the field of transportation has earned Dr. Hildebrand the society’s Sir Sandford Fleming Award.

“The award isn’t about me, it is recognition for the work a lot of brilliant students have done over my 30-year career,” says Dr. Hildebrand. “I’ve helped students along, but they’re the ones that produce the research.”

In addition to being a professor of civil engineering at UNB, he has served as the co-ordinator of UNB’s Transportation Group. He has demonstrated a passion for transportation safety, acting as an adviser and investigator to Transport Canada on collision investigations as well as working closely with provincial governments and private contractors on highway design and safety.  

The society named Dr. Bischoff a fellow at the annual conference. Fellows of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering are nominated after having a minimum of five continuous years as a society member and 10 years of professional experience. Dr. Bischoff earned this prestigious honour through dedication to the society as well as to research and work in the field of civil engineering.

Dr. Rankin, M. Patrick Gillin Chair in Construction Engineering and Management at UNB, was recognized as the James A. Vance Award recipient. The James A. Vance Award is presented to a Canadian Society of Civil Engineering member who has demonstrated a dedication to the society and its advancement. Serving various roles with the society, such as vice-president of the Atlantic region, chair of the construction division, and four terms as a member of the national management committee and board of directors earned Dr. Rankin the award.

The 2018 Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Annual Conference will be held at the Fredericton Convention Centre. Running from June 13 through 16 next year, the annual conference will be led by past and present members of department of civil engineering at UNB.