U of S Engineer Wins Prestigious International Award

Posted August 15, 2002


Note: Since this release was prepared, it has been learned that Dr. Kushwaha is the second Canadian to win this award. C. Glenn E. Downing, a distinguished alumnus of U of S, was the first Canadian to receive it (1986).


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 15, 2002	    2002-08-05-ENG 

U of S Engineer Wins Prestigious International Award

University of Saskatchewan engineering professor Lal Kushwaha has become the 
first Canadian awarded the prestigious John Deere Gold Medal by the American 
Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE). 

The award, which recognizes "distinguished achievement in the application of 
science and art to the soil", was presented July 31 at the annual ASAE 
international meeting in Chicago, Ill. 
  
Kushwaha, who is currently president of the Canadian Society of Agricultural 
Engineering, was lauded both for his research and his "outstanding 
reputation as a teacher."

Kushwaha is internationally known for his contributions to soil dynamics, 
tillage, and analysis of soil-machinery interaction. He has worked 
extensively in prairie agriculture, and developed the concept of high-speed 
tillage. 

Recently, Kushwaha received a total of $605,000 from NSERC (Natural Sciences 
and Engineering Research Council) and the Canadian Department of National 
Defence to develop efficient and cost-effective machines that clear 
landmines.

He has since developed a remote-controlled prototype that detonates 
landmines without damaging itself as it moves across the soil. He will also 
develop a computer model to analyze the risk to various kinds of military 
vehicles that travel across minefields. 

Later this month, his team will be in southern Alberta at Defence Research 
and Development Canada-Suffield for the testing of the prototype using 
"dummy" (mechanically produced) land mines. 

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For more information, contact: 

Prof. Lal Kushwaha 
U of S College of Engineering 
Phone:  (306) 966-5313 

Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications  
Phone:  (306) 966-2506