CEDC Speaker Series: Dr David Lynch, Dean of Engineering, University of Alberta
by Scott A. Sumner
The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission has been bringing in some excellent speakers to stimulate local business discussion. It was fun to feel the enthusiasm of Dr. David Lynch, Dean of Engineering, at the University of Alberta when he gave a talk about
the role his engineering department has played in the economic growth of Alberta.
Alberta has a GDP of $300 billion which is 1/5 the total of Canada. His faculty has 5700 engineering students and has played a prominent role in the development of technologies of the Alberta Oil Sands.
“ The University of Alberta has played a significant role in helping to grow that GDP by being part of the innovation and supporting that innovation. Our collaborative university industry relationships have resulted in reductions of water use, fuel use, reduced green house
gases and improvements in how we can reclaim, remediate and treat disturbed landscapes,” said Dr. David Lynch. “ At the end of the day you become a more productive, efficient and profitable industry that pays higher taxes and royalties which help the university with higher
capital spending and operating grants. It is an entire eco system. You have to look at university and industry relationships as a societal eco system. You have to look at it holistically, focus on all aspects and build it with all parts working together.”
The University of Alberta Engineering Faculty is one of the largest in North America, in the top few percentage of the 400 or so engineering schools. “ As a citizen of Canada we all want good services like health for a good quality of life and we have to generate wealth to support this. Engineers are at the fore front of wealth generation.” said Lynch.
“ Thunder Bay has an incredible future. I see the direct parallels of what happened in the oil sands industry, we are just shifted in time. The amount that is going to happen here in its own way will compare with what has happened with the oil sands in Alberta in term of resources broadly- mining, forestry and other resources. It is all here and you can see the industry need and demand for the particular minerals and metals. Thunder Bay is on the epicenter of that
development so get ready for the ride,” said Lynch. “ You have to think of how do you capture all of the elements like the design side, the financial side, the legal pieces of it, the entire infrastructure. You have to look at it has an eco system and can’t just concentrate on
the construction. You need to build all the features of the
development.”
