UW biotechnologist receives major international recognition award Source: University of Waterloo, Release no. 56 WATERLOO, Ont. (April 6, 2006) -- A leading researcher at the University of Waterloo has received a global award for breakthrough work in biotechnology, including advances in the production of biopharmaceuticals and the reduction of pollution. Murray Moo-Young, distinguished professor emeritus of chemical engineering, is this year's winner of the prestigious international Khwarizimi award for his achievements in biotechnology. The award consists of $7,000 US, a gold medallion and silver statuette. Sponsored by UNESCO and the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, the award is given for recognized international excellence in any branch of science. It is named after the famous Persian scientist-mathematician, al-Khwarizimi (born ca 800 AD), who invented Algebra (al-jabr) and the concept of algorithm (an English transliteration of his name). Moo-Young is one of Canada's top chemical engineers in the areas of mass transfer, biochemical engineering and industrial biotechnology. His research focus has been on bioprocessing strategies for the chemical, drug, food and bioremediation industries. The citation for the award says that in Moo-Young's accomplishments, "engineering design principles are developed and implemented for applications in biomanufacturing and bioremediation strategies in the production of biological products, especially biopharmaceuticals, and in the abatement of environmental pollution, especially from recalcitrant organic contaminants." "I take great satisfaction in seeing my research leading to practical engineering strategies to produce drugs more cheaply and to reduce the level of environmental damage," Moo-Young said. The award was presented to Moo-Young in Tehran at a recent ceremony officiated and attended by several dignitaries in one of the Iranian government assembly halls. To date, Moo-Young has produced 306 papers, nine patents and 14 books. He has served on many professional committees, including the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering Scholarship Awards Committee and the NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) Strategic Grants Committee. In 1985, he was editor-in-chief of the international four-volume reference treatise Comprehensive Biotechnology. He has also been a consultant to industry and government agencies around the world. Jamaican-born of Chinese heritage, Moo-Young was educated at the universities of London (BSc, PhD), Toronto (Master of Applied Science) and Edinburgh (postdoctorate). He immigrated to Canada from Britain in 1962. After brief stints at the universities of Toronto and Western Ontario, he joined Waterloo in 1966. -30- Contact: Murray Moo Young, professor emeritus of chemical engineering, (519) 888-4006 mooyoung@uwaterloo.ca John Morris, UW Media Relations, (519) 888-4435 jmorris@uwaterloo.ca University of Waterloo Release no. 56 Get Abobe Acrobat Reader. It's free.

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