The International Association of Fire Safety Science (IAFSS) is presenting two new awards, the Proulx and Magnusson Early Career Awards, at the 12th Symposium in Lund, Sweden in June 2017. Each of the awards consists of a grant of US$4000, a plaque, and free registration to the Symposium. Each recipient will also deliver at the Symposium a review paper drawn from their body of work.
The Proulx and Magnusson Early Career Awards recognise meritorious achievement by members of the IAFSS who are early in their careers and have contributed a body of work that is of significance to any area of fire safety science. The two awards are distinguished by the period of time from completion of the candidates’ most recent educational degree.
Proulx Award
The recipient of the inaugural 2017 Proulx Award is Prof. Michael Gollner from University of Maryland for his major scientific contributions to the understanding of flame spread, wildland and wildland-urban interface fire spread, and fire whirls. Michael is a rising star of the fire science community, an innovative engineer with great vision of the important issues in fire safety.
For the Proulx Award, candidates must be within five years from completion of their most recent degree at the time of nomination. The award commemorates Dr. Guylene Proulx (1960-2009), an expert in human behaviour in fire at National Research Council Canada, and IAFSS Board member at the time she passed away.
Magnusson Award
The recipient of the inaugural 2017 Magnusson Award is Dr Anna Stec from University of Central Lancashire for her major and lasting contributions in the field of fire chemistry and fire toxicity which she has applied to many areas of fire safety from material properties and risks to egress from fires. She is an excellent experimentalist with a sound understanding of fire dynamics and fire science.
For the Magnusson Award, candidates must be within five to ten years from completion of their most recent degree at the time of nomination. The award commemorates Prof. Sven Erik Magnusson (1938-2014), pioneer of parametric fires and risk management at Lund University, Sweden, and a driving force in creating the first education curriculum for fire safety engineering.
The awards subcommittee was chaired by Dr Guillermo Rein, and supported by Dr Anne Steen-Hansen, Dr Steven Gwynne and Prof Ritsu Dobashi as co-chairs from each of the IAFSS world regions. The help of 13 independent experts who contributed to evaluate the nominations is greatly acknowledged.