David Strangway
Encyclopedia
David William Strangway, OC
, FRSC
(born June 7, 1934) is a Canadian
Geophysicist and University Administrator. Strangway is the founder, first President and first Chancellor of Quest University Canada, a private non-profit liberal arts and sciences university in Squamish, British Columbia
which opened in September 2007. He is President Emeritus of the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia.
Strangway studied at the University of Toronto
, earning a B.A.
in Physics and Geology in 1956, an M.A.
in physics and a Ph.D
in physics in 1960. Strangway began his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado between 1961-64. In 1965, he joined M.I.T for three years as both an Assistant Professor of Geophysics and Researcher. In 1970, he joined NASA
as the Chief of the Geophysics Branch and was responsible for the geophysical aspects of the Apollo missions
. In 1972, he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
for his scientific contribution to NASA. As Chief of NASA’s Geophysics Branch, David Strangway designed lunar experiments for Apollo astronauts and also was involved in the examination of returned moon rocks that contributed to the further knowledge of the solar system. Strangway is the author or co-author of more than 165 research papers, including results of lunar sample studies and experiments. Strangway’s research focused extensively on magnetic studies and electromagnetic sounding, both terrestrially for exploration and mapping and in lunar mapping and exploration. Since 1971 he has served on a great number of scientific and academic committees on behalf of governmental or private sector organizations.
He was a vice-president at the University of Toronto and the chairman of its Geology Department from 1973 to 1983. Upon the retirement of James Ham
in 1983, Strangway was appointed the acting president of the University of Toronto. He was elevated to become the University's eleventh President after the designated successor, Donald Forster
, suddenly died of a heart attack
in August of that year.
From 1985 to 1997, he was the tenth President of the University of British Columbia
. He provided the direction and impetus that enabled the large, publicly funded University of British Columbia to achieve world-class status during his 12 years as President. This was enhanced by leading what was at the time, Canada’s largest fund-raising campaign and by creating UBC Real Estate Corp. to develop market housing.
From 1998 to 2004, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Foundation for Innovation
, an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada
to fund research infrastructure. This autonomous, Ottawa-based organization was founded in 1997 to fund and revitalize national research infrastructure programs that would enable Canadian Universities, Colleges and Research Hospitals to carry out across-the-board scientific and technological projects of benefit to all Canadians. Of CFI’s capital investment budget of $3.65 billion, more than $2.7 billion was invested during David’s six-year tenure – effectively stemming the loss of Canadian researchers to other countries. It was during this time that he played a key role in helping the Canadian government to create the Canada Research Chairs. This program, funded at the level of $300m a year, has created 2000 new positions in Canadian Universities. Strangway retired from CFI March 31, 2004 in order to devote his full attention to Quest University Canada during the important construction and start-up phases of its development.
In 1997, he was appointed by the Canadian Prime Minister to join with William Ruckelshaus, an appointee of the President of the U.S., to study the bitter Pacific Salmon controversy between the two countries. Their work and recommendations formed the basis for negotiation of a new agreement.
Premier's Advisory Council on Science and Technology
International Institute os Sustainable Development Founding Board Member
Chairman of the Ontario Geoscience Research Fund
Chairman of the University Research Incentive Fund Ontario
Member of the Lunar Science Research Plan
Member of the Lunar Science and Analysis Planning Team (Awarded samples to investigators and prepared the summary of the results of the first Apollo mission)
A member of COMPLEX, The National Academy of Science (Committee on Planetary Exploration)
Chair of the Premier's Council on Environment and Economy
Member of the American Geophysical Union Development Board
One of the original members of the steering committee that created the Canada Research Chairs (Major impact on Canadian Universities' competitiveness)
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(born June 7, 1934) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Geophysicist and University Administrator. Strangway is the founder, first President and first Chancellor of Quest University Canada, a private non-profit liberal arts and sciences university in Squamish, British Columbia
Squamish, British Columbia
Squamish is a community and a district municipality in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Howe Sound on the Sea to Sky Highway...
which opened in September 2007. He is President Emeritus of the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia.
Strangway studied at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, earning a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Physics and Geology in 1956, an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in physics and a Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in physics in 1960. Strangway began his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado between 1961-64. In 1965, he joined M.I.T for three years as both an Assistant Professor of Geophysics and Researcher. In 1970, he joined NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
as the Chief of the Geophysics Branch and was responsible for the geophysical aspects of the Apollo missions
Project Apollo
The Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
. In 1972, he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
The NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal was established by NASA on September 15, 1961 when the original ESM was divided into three separate awards. Under the current guidelines, the ESAM is awarded for unusually significant scientific contribution toward achievement of aeronautical or...
for his scientific contribution to NASA. As Chief of NASA’s Geophysics Branch, David Strangway designed lunar experiments for Apollo astronauts and also was involved in the examination of returned moon rocks that contributed to the further knowledge of the solar system. Strangway is the author or co-author of more than 165 research papers, including results of lunar sample studies and experiments. Strangway’s research focused extensively on magnetic studies and electromagnetic sounding, both terrestrially for exploration and mapping and in lunar mapping and exploration. Since 1971 he has served on a great number of scientific and academic committees on behalf of governmental or private sector organizations.
He was a vice-president at the University of Toronto and the chairman of its Geology Department from 1973 to 1983. Upon the retirement of James Ham
James Milton Ham
James Milton Ham, was a Canadian university administrator and the tenth President of the University of Toronto....
in 1983, Strangway was appointed the acting president of the University of Toronto. He was elevated to become the University's eleventh President after the designated successor, Donald Forster
Donald Forster
Donald Forster was a Canadian academic. He was president of the University of Guelph, and was appointed president of the University of Toronto just before his death....
, suddenly died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in August of that year.
From 1985 to 1997, he was the tenth President of the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. He provided the direction and impetus that enabled the large, publicly funded University of British Columbia to achieve world-class status during his 12 years as President. This was enhanced by leading what was at the time, Canada’s largest fund-raising campaign and by creating UBC Real Estate Corp. to develop market housing.
From 1998 to 2004, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Foundation for Innovation
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Created by the Government of Canada in 1997, the Canada Foundation for Innovation strives to build our nation’s capacity to undertake world-class research and technology development to benefit Canadians...
, an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
to fund research infrastructure. This autonomous, Ottawa-based organization was founded in 1997 to fund and revitalize national research infrastructure programs that would enable Canadian Universities, Colleges and Research Hospitals to carry out across-the-board scientific and technological projects of benefit to all Canadians. Of CFI’s capital investment budget of $3.65 billion, more than $2.7 billion was invested during David’s six-year tenure – effectively stemming the loss of Canadian researchers to other countries. It was during this time that he played a key role in helping the Canadian government to create the Canada Research Chairs. This program, funded at the level of $300m a year, has created 2000 new positions in Canadian Universities. Strangway retired from CFI March 31, 2004 in order to devote his full attention to Quest University Canada during the important construction and start-up phases of its development.
In 1997, he was appointed by the Canadian Prime Minister to join with William Ruckelshaus, an appointee of the President of the U.S., to study the bitter Pacific Salmon controversy between the two countries. Their work and recommendations formed the basis for negotiation of a new agreement.
Premier's Advisory Council on Science and Technology
International Institute os Sustainable Development Founding Board Member
Chairman of the Ontario Geoscience Research Fund
Chairman of the University Research Incentive Fund Ontario
Member of the Lunar Science Research Plan
Member of the Lunar Science and Analysis Planning Team (Awarded samples to investigators and prepared the summary of the results of the first Apollo mission)
A member of COMPLEX, The National Academy of Science (Committee on Planetary Exploration)
Chair of the Premier's Council on Environment and Economy
Member of the American Geophysical Union Development Board
One of the original members of the steering committee that created the Canada Research Chairs (Major impact on Canadian Universities' competitiveness)
Honours
- In 1984, Strangway received the Logan MedalLogan MedalThe Logan Medal is the highest award of the Geological Association of Canada. Named after Sir William Edmond Logan, noted 19th century Canadian geologist. It is presented annually to an individual for sustained distinguished achievement in Canadian earth science.-References:*...
for his geological works. This award is the highest honour the Geological Association of CanadaGeological Association of CanadaThe Geological Association of Canada promotes and develops the geological sciences in Canada. The organization holds conferences, meetings and exhibitions for the discussion of geological problems and the exchange of views in matters related to geology...
bestows. http://www.esd.mun.ca/~gac/MEDALS/medal.html - In 1987, he received the J. Tuzo Wilson MedalJ. Tuzo Wilson MedalThe J. Tuzo Wilson Medal is given out annually by the Canadian Geophysical Union to recognize scientists who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of geophysics in Canada. Factors taken into account in the selection process include excellence in scientific or technical research,...
from the Canadian Geophysical UnionCanadian Geophysical UnionThe Canadian Geophysical Union/Union géophysique canadienne began as a society dedicated to the scientific study of the solid earth and has evolved into one that is concerned with all aspects of the physical study of Earth and its space environment, including the Sun and solar system...
http://www.cgu-ugc.ca/medal/intro.html - In 1996, he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for being an "internationally respected as an outstanding scientist and senior academic administrator".