New research chair named for vice-president (research)
A new research chair in Quebec has been named after 91亚色檚 vice-president (research).
The Dr. Richard J. Marceau Chair on Wireless IP Technology for Developing Countries was announced last week by the 脡cole de technologie sup茅rieure (脡TS), a post-secondary engineering school in Montreal.
脡TS is part of the Universit茅 du Qu茅bec system. Dr. Fran莽ois Gagnon, professor in electrical engineering at 脡TS, is the inaugural chair holder.
Astonishingly 58 per cent of the world檚 population is still not connected to the Internet, a critical piece of technology many of us cannot live without.
Connecting developing countries
The new chair will undertake research intent on helping people in developing countries and isolated regions gain access to the Internet through existing infrastructure.
淒r. Louis Lagass茅, the philanthropist behind this chair, is really the person we should all be celebrating, said Dr. Marceau. 淗is hope of bringing the Internet to those who have no access攖he vast majority of humanity攊s truly visionary.
According to 脡TS, the school chose Dr. Marceau as way of honouring 渢he creativity and dynamism of this great man, who has contributed so much to our universities.
楬umbled and honoured
For his part, Dr. Marceau is humble about the praise and says he檚 thrilled to have a research chair in his name.
淚 never imagined that a research chair would ever bear my name, he said. 淚 am deeply touched by this initiative spearheaded by Dr. Lagass茅 and 脡TS.
Expanding Internet access can have a positive impact on communities around the world攆rom medical services to online education and everything in between. Dr. Gagnon will collaborate with researchers in Ecuador on the initial stages of his research.
淒r. Gagnon is one of the most gifted researchers I have ever known, noted Dr. Marceau. 淗is research could impact the lives of billions of people and I have no doubt that he will be successful. It is truly an honour to be associated with his work.