Wondering ’why’ and ’what if’

Engineering professor follows his curiosity to major research prize for industry partnerships. By Carol Truemner Faculty of Engineering - Motivated by an innate sense of curiosity, Dr. Norman Zhou has made significant contributions in many areas of engineering over the past 24 years. While he began his career as a Waterloo Engineering professor focused on advanced welding and joining technologies, his inquisitive nature also led to advancements in fields including nanomaterials fabrication and laser processing of shape memory alloys. "I'm constantly wondering 'why' and 'what if' when it comes to many things in life and my research," said Zhou, a mechanical and mechatronics engineering professor who is cross-appointed to electrical and computer engineering. Zhou's search for answers also led to national recognition today with the announcement that he is the winner of a prestigious Synergy Award for Innovation from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), a prize that comes with a $200,000 research grant. Lab 'has been a key player'. One of four winners across the country, he was cited in a category for productive collaborations between academics and two or more Canadian industrial partners.