Metsoc Research Excellence Award

Metsoc Research Excellence Award

The MetSoc Research Excellence Award was established by the Aluminum Company of Canada Limited for “a highly significant contribution to the field of metallurgy”.

This award is supported by:

THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 IS OPEN . The deadline is February 10, 2026.

2026 Recipient

Bern Klein

The University of British Columbia

Citation:
In recognition of original and fundamental contributions to ore sorting and energy‑efficient comminution.

Biography:
Dr. Bern Klein is a Professor of Mineral Process Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering in Vancouver Canada. At UBC he served as Head of the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering (2008-2014) and as Executive Director of the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (2013-2014). He teaches courses in Mineral Processing Unit Operations, Processing of Precious Metal Ores, Rheology of Mineral Suspensions and Integrated Mining and Processing Systems. Bern’s research focus areas are sensor-based ore classification, comminution (HPGR and Stirred Mills) and rheology. He is co-founder of MineSense Technologies Ltd, which is technology start-up company focussed on sensor-based sorting technologies. He is also a principal with OrePortal Ltd, providing technical advising and consulting to the mining industry. In the past he has served as Chairman of the British Columbia and Yukon Branch of the Canadian Mineral Processors, the SAG Conferences and the Industrial Minerals Division of the Canadian Institute of Mining. He has over 200 Journal and Conference publications. He has directly supervised about 20 PhD and 50 MASc research students to completion.

2025 – Frank Cheng2024 – Dongyang Li2023 – Priti Wanjara
2022 – Mihaiela Isac2021 – Boyd Davis2020 – Vladimiros Papangelakis
2019 – Hani Henein2018 – not attributed2017 – George Demopoulos
2016 – Z. Xu2015 – Daolun Chen2014 – M. Sahoo
2013 – C. Ravindran2012 – David S. Wilkinson2011 – Gary R. Purdy
2010 – Mahesh Chaturvedi2009 – A. Plumtree2008 – R. Berezowsky
2007 – G. A. Irons2006 – Engin Ozberk2005 – David Dreisinger
2004 – J. Laskowski2003 – G. Kaiura2002 – J.A. Szpunar
2001 – T.T. Chen2000 – H. McQueen1999 – E. Krause
1998 – R. Meadowcroft1997 – N.J. Themelis1996 – J.A. Finch
1995 – G.C. Weatherly1994 – J.E. Dutrizac1993 – E.B. Hawbolt
1992 – J.E. Gruzleski1991 – A. McLean1990 – J.J. Jonas
1989 – E.W. Dewing1988 – J.K. Brimacombe1987 – R.I.L. Guthrie
1986 – S.N. Flengas1985 – G.M. Ritcey1984 – C.R. Masson
1983 – W.- K. Lu1982 – E. Peters1981 – W.G. Davenport
1980 – F. Weinberg1979 – J.M. Toguri1978 – H. Ross
1977 – A. Hone1976 – W.M. Williams1975 – K.W. Downes
1974 – W.M. Armstrong1973 – J. Leja1972 – J. Convey
1971 – C.S. Samis1970 – W.H. Gauvin1969 – F.A. Forward
1968 – J.S.G. Kirkaldy1967 – W.C. Winegard1966 – L.M. Pidgeon, M.B.E.

Criteria

The Metsoc Research Excellence Award​ is the award for contribution to the metallurgy or materials field by a MetSoc member academic or research scientist in any Canadian research laboratory or Canadian university. The award recognizes a lifetime contribution to teaching and research or outstanding individual work resulting in a significant breakthrough in metallurgy or materials practices. 

There is no cash prize for this award.

Origin

The Alcan Award was established by the Aluminum Company of Canada Limited in 1965 for the Metallurgy & Materials Society of CIM (Metallurgical Society then) to recognize “a highly significant contribution to the field of metallurgy”.  The award was renamed the Research Excellence Award sponsored by Rio Tinto in 2015 and Rio Tinto has continued to support this award through donations to the CIM Foundation.  

Metsoc Research Excellence Award

All nominees must have a minimum of five years of CIM National membership and be in good standing.  Membership is not required to be consecutive but the member has to have the current and previous year in good standing. Exceptions to this membership requirement may be made in the case where a candidate has a substantial historical record of contributions to MetSoc. The contributions and impact must be to the benefit of Canada.

 

The award nomination program is closed for 2026.

 

The nominator has 6 steps to complete.  The documents can be uploaded to our online nomination system.

  1. Fill in the contribution box – a summary of why this person is being nominated (see item 3) with any information listed above that is not included in the CV.
  2. Fill in the citation – in 15 words this person is being recognized for.
  3. The CV should contain the items listed below. If the CV does not contain these items, consider adding them to the Contribution box and letter statement:
    1. Major contributions relevant to the award
    2. A record of at least five relevant patents and/or papers authored by the nominee plus a count of other patents and papers
    3. A service history related to CIM/MetSoc if applicable
    4. A record of the years of membership in CIM
    5. A listing of volunteer activities if applicable
    6. A listing of awards previously received
    7. A listing of academic achievements
  4. One written letter by the nominator on letterhead describing in full length why this candidate is nominated for the award.
  5. A minimum of 3 Endorsers (outside of company colleagues) – these endorsers simply must support with an online approval click, however, a supporting letter is also welcomed and encouraged.
  6. Research Excellence Award: This award requires an additional letter of support by a peer in the field on letterhead for a total of 2 letters included in the nomination package.  Additional weight and marks may be considered by the committee if additional written letters of peer support are added to the nomination package (Max 5 additional uploads will be allowed).
Start Nomination

General Policies

  • A nominator can put forward only one candidate for nomination in each award category. 
  • No Member of the Executive Board shall be nominated for a MetSoc-administered award while in office. The nomination will be held until the term on the executive board expires.
  • Each award shall be made from time to time as circumstances warrant, with no more than one award recipient per year.
  • The nominators are responsible for verifying that all conditions of the award have been satisfied and that all procedures were properly followed in making the nomination.
  • All nominations will stand for three years.
  • The adjudication of the award shall be made by the MetSoc Awards Committee of The Metallurgy and Materials Society of CIM.
  • The award shall be presented at the Awards Banquet of the Conference of Metallurgists.
  • Posthumous awards will be allowed only if the candidate has already been shortlisted.
  • Self-nominations are not permitted.