1982 Saint John Spring Convocation
Lewis, Wilfrid Bennett
Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)
Orator: Bogaards, Winnifred M.
Citation:
CONVOCATION, MAY, 1982
WILFRID BENNETT LEWIS
to be Doctor of Science
Born in England, Wilfrid Bennett Lewis completed his formal education at the Cavendish Laboratory of the University of Cambridge, in part in close personal association with Lord Rutherford. Continuing as a research fellow at Cambridge, Dr. Lewis became one of the pioneers in the use of electronic amplifiers in nuclear research and in the development of binary scalers for the fast counting of charged particles. The state of the electronics art in 1942 is described in his book entitled Electrical Counting.
The outbreak of the Second World War terminated Dr. Lewis's academic career at the University of Cambridge. He was seconded to the Air Ministry for the development of radar at the Bawdsey Research Station, which later became the Telecommunications Research Establishment. Distinction in his wartime work was officially recognized by his appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) in 1946, and the award of the American Medal of Freedom with Silver Palms in 1947.
In 1946 Dr. Lewis came to Canada as the Director of the Division of Atomic Energy Research at Chalk River, Ontario. In 1952, when the crown corporation Atomic Energy of Canada Limited superseded the National Research Council as the umbrella organization, Dr. Lewis became Vice-President, Research and Development. Under his guidance the Canadian heavy water - natural uranium reactor, known as CANDU, for nuclear-electric stations was finally developed. Operated by Ontario Hydro for some time with conspicuous success, and soon to come into operation in New Brunswick at Point Lepreau, the CANDU is recognized internationally as the most reliable and one of the safest nuclear reactors available in the world today.
Dr. Lewis's contribution to nuclear physics has been recognized through many special awards including the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada, 1966; the Atoms for Peace Award, 1967; 25th anniversary Gold Medal of the Canadian Association of Physicists, 1970; Royal Medal of the Royal Society of London, 1972; the "W.B. Lewis Medal" of the Canadian Nuclear Association struck in 1973 to perpetuate his name in Canadian nuclear science and engineering; and most recently the prestigious Enrico Fermi Prize of the U.S. Department of Energy. He has served on international committees of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Under Dr. Lewis's direction the Chalk River Laboratories became recognized as one of the leading nuclear research centres in the world. He has taken a detailed and critical interest in scientific advances, including physics, chemistry, metallurgy, and biology, and he has inspired an important share of them. After twenty-seven years directing research and development at Chalk River, he retired in 1973. At present he is a Distinguished Professor of Science at Queen's University. His career has been characterized by personal qualities of enormous energy, purposeful persistence, and a compelling urge to use his deep and broad understanding of science for the material benefit of society.
Insignissime Praeses, tota Universitas, praesento vobis Wilfridum Bennett Lewis ut admittatur honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Scientia in hac Universitate.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2
WILFRID BENNETT LEWIS
to be Doctor of Science
Born in England, Wilfrid Bennett Lewis completed his formal education at the Cavendish Laboratory of the University of Cambridge, in part in close personal association with Lord Rutherford. Continuing as a research fellow at Cambridge, Dr. Lewis became one of the pioneers in the use of electronic amplifiers in nuclear research and in the development of binary scalers for the fast counting of charged particles. The state of the electronics art in 1942 is described in his book entitled Electrical Counting.
The outbreak of the Second World War terminated Dr. Lewis's academic career at the University of Cambridge. He was seconded to the Air Ministry for the development of radar at the Bawdsey Research Station, which later became the Telecommunications Research Establishment. Distinction in his wartime work was officially recognized by his appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) in 1946, and the award of the American Medal of Freedom with Silver Palms in 1947.
In 1946 Dr. Lewis came to Canada as the Director of the Division of Atomic Energy Research at Chalk River, Ontario. In 1952, when the crown corporation Atomic Energy of Canada Limited superseded the National Research Council as the umbrella organization, Dr. Lewis became Vice-President, Research and Development. Under his guidance the Canadian heavy water - natural uranium reactor, known as CANDU, for nuclear-electric stations was finally developed. Operated by Ontario Hydro for some time with conspicuous success, and soon to come into operation in New Brunswick at Point Lepreau, the CANDU is recognized internationally as the most reliable and one of the safest nuclear reactors available in the world today.
Dr. Lewis's contribution to nuclear physics has been recognized through many special awards including the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada, 1966; the Atoms for Peace Award, 1967; 25th anniversary Gold Medal of the Canadian Association of Physicists, 1970; Royal Medal of the Royal Society of London, 1972; the "W.B. Lewis Medal" of the Canadian Nuclear Association struck in 1973 to perpetuate his name in Canadian nuclear science and engineering; and most recently the prestigious Enrico Fermi Prize of the U.S. Department of Energy. He has served on international committees of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Under Dr. Lewis's direction the Chalk River Laboratories became recognized as one of the leading nuclear research centres in the world. He has taken a detailed and critical interest in scientific advances, including physics, chemistry, metallurgy, and biology, and he has inspired an important share of them. After twenty-seven years directing research and development at Chalk River, he retired in 1973. At present he is a Distinguished Professor of Science at Queen's University. His career has been characterized by personal qualities of enormous energy, purposeful persistence, and a compelling urge to use his deep and broad understanding of science for the material benefit of society.
Insignissime Praeses, tota Universitas, praesento vobis Wilfridum Bennett Lewis ut admittatur honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Scientia in hac Universitate.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2
Citations may be reproduced for research purposes only. Publication in whole or in part requires written permission from the author.