Quick Facts:

The following are a few facts about the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNB.

Introduction:

• The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of New Brunswick has 14 full-time faculty members, one honorary research professor, three adjunct professors and one Professor Emeritus. Four other faculty members from outside the department are involved in the Graduate Academic Unit of Mechanical Engineering.
• Funding for research comes from industry and government. In 1999, the research grants and contracts awarded to full-time faculty in mechanical engineering exceeded $2,900,000.
• The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, National Research Council, The Canadian Foundation for Innovation(CFI), FAA, NB Power, Electric Power Research Institute, Medical Research Fund of New Brunswick, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd, Ontario Hydro Research,the CANDU Owners Group, Fusion Fuels Technology, The Environmental Science and Technology Alliance Canada(ESTAC), Imperial Oil Ltd., Transport Canada and Irving Oil are examples of funding sources or collaborative partners.
• Support staff includes three secretaries, four technicians and a number of research engineers and research assistants. A broad spectrum of research projects is conducted within the department, and in conjunction with other groups within and outside the university.
• At the present, the department has 24 full-time and 4 part-time graduate students. The department provides a co-operative, stimulating and creative environment in which students receive personal attention and support.

Supporters of the Mechanical Engineering Department:

        Dr. Rudolf Starkermann made two generous financial donations to support two undergraduate prizes for academic excellence entitled "The Dr. Rudolf Starkermann Prize in Mechanical Engineering". Dr. Starkermann is now retired and living in Switzerland. He was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UNB from 1970 - 1989.  

         An endowment was received from the estate of Rudy and Theresa Esterbauer which now funds the "The Rudy & Theresa Esterbauer Fund in Mechanical Engineering". These funds have been allocated to provide scholarship at the graduate and undergraduate levels, funds for research, assistance with the development of new and innovative teaching methods, promotion of the department, assistance with student travel to design competitions and to purchase laboratory equipment. The Esterbauers, originally from Austria, immigrated to Bathurst in 1954 where Rudy was an engineer with Larson Diamond Drilling until 1957. He continued as an engineer at the Bathurst Power and Paper and later transferred to the Noranda Mine in Quebec. He and Theresa retired in Ontario.

         In April 2008, a smart classroom for the Mechanical Engineering Department was donated by Molly Tam in memory of her husband Harold. Harold Tam was a long-time supporter of the faculty of engineering and the first student from Hong Kong to graduate from UNB in 1960. While building a successful career as an engineer and business leader in Hong Kong, Singapore and later Vancouver, Harold maintained a strong connection with UNB. In addition to his long-time financial support of the faculty of engineering, Harold and Molly were actively involved in alumni events and homecoming reunions. Both were prominent members of the UNB chapter in Hong Kong. Harold passed away in 2005 but his memory will live on in the Harold Tam Ming Wing Room.

         Information about donating to UNB is available at www.unb.ca/donations

Historical Sketch: 

        The Department of Mechanical Engineering has been in existence at the University since 1908 but for many years it served only to provide courses in mechanical engineering and technical drawing for the Departments of Civil and Electrical Engineering. 

         In 1948 the University Senate authorized the establishment of the first three years of a program in Mechanical Engineering. In 1950 the program was extended to five years, leading to the degree of B.Sc.E. and the first class graduated in 1953. (There were only two faculty members.). 

         Since the inauguration of the degree program in Mechanical Engineering, the enrollment has risen to a total at the present time of 250 in the five year program. 

         Instruction in Engineering began as the result of the foresight of two men: William Brydone-Jack who served as Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in 1840 and as President from 1861 to 1885; and Sir Edmund Head, who was Governor of New Brunswick from 1847 to 1854 and Governor-General of Canada from 1854 to 1861. Brydone-Jack introduced instruction in Surveying as part of the Mathematics course and was responsible for the construction, in 1851, of the Observatory, which boasted a six-inch telescope which was the equal of any other on the continent. In 1852 Sir Edmund Head petitioned the Council of the College (then King's College) to consider giving instruction in the Civil Engineering. As a result, the first lectures were given on February 15, 1854, to a class of twenty-six students. This was the first instruction in Engineering at a Canadian University. 

        The Engineering Faculty has occupied the Old Engineering Building on since 1901, with major additions of space in 1924, 1945, 1947 and 1957. The enlarged Engineering building became Sir Edmund Head Hall in 1967. Gillin Hall was added in 1989. 

       The Mechanical Engineering Office was originally located in the Old Engineering Building where Head Hall joins the old building on D-floor until 1967 when it moved to Sir Edmund Head Hall in Room E-44. In January 2000 the office relocated into a newly renovated offices in Room E-41. 
 

Some of the original faculty members of the department were 

• Professor Eric E. Wheatley (1951-1973)
• Professor Edward W. Hagerman (1926-1970)
• Professor Frank Coleman (1952-1974)
• Professor Fred Spinney (1955-1999)
• Professor Louis Torfason (1959-1990)
• Professor Verne Ireton (1957-1996)

• Professor Eric Wheatley, 1951 - 1973
• Dr. James E. Venart, 1973-1980, Acting Chairman(1983-84)
• Professor Kenneth E. Machin, Acting Chairman 1978 & 1980
• Dr. David J. Bonham, January 1981 - June 1989
• Dr. Huw G. Davies, July 1989 - June 1995 and July 1996 - June 1999
• Dr. Robert J. Rogers, Acting Chair July 1995 - June 1996
• Dr. Edmund N. Biden, July 1999 - June 2001
• Dr. Gordon Holloway, Acting Chair July 2001 - June 2002
• Dr. Esam Hussein, July 2002 - June 2006
• Dr. Gordon Holloway, July 2006 - Present