Maple Leaf Award
This award is given to honour members of the CSBE/SCGAB who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the profession. It is the highest award made by the Society in recognition of leadership in the profession. The award is given for outstanding personal qualities, society activities, and professional abilities. The award recipient is selected from nominations from five members of the CSBE/SCGAB and must receive the unanimous consent of the Awards Committee. The recipient must have been a member of the Society for at least ten years.
Ce prix est remis à un membre qui s'est distingué par ses qualités de chef au sein de la profession. C'est le prix le plus prestigieux de la SCGAB/CSBE et il est remis en reconnaissance de leadership pour l'avancement de la profession. Il souligne des qualités personnelles, des activités au sein de la SCGAB/CSBE, une contribution remarquable et des compétences professionnelles. Le récipiendaire est choisi parmi les candidats mis en nomination par cinq membres. Il doit recevoir l'appui unanime des membres du comité des distinctions. Le récipiendaire est membre de la SCGAB/CSBE depuis au moins dix ans.
Nomination Form
2026 MAPLE LEAF AWARD
Dr. Ramanathan Sri Ranjan, P.Eng., is being nominated for his contributions to soil and water engineering, his long-standing service to the CSABE-SCGAB and ASABE, and his contributions to teaching, research, extension, and international activities. He has been a professor at the University of Manitoba since 1990. He joined the academic staff in the Department of Biosystems Engineering after earning his BSc (Honours) degree with a Specialization in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in 1981, an MS and a PhD degree in Agricultural Engineering from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, in 1986 and 1989, respectively. His training in Soil and Water Engineering helped establish a robust teaching, research, and extension program in irrigation and drainage, helping farmers see the economic benefits of better water management through controlled drainage. He developed and taught a course in Remediation Engineering, training students in soil and groundwater remediation techniques. He also worked with the environmental consulting industry, developing and testing innovative soil and ground remediation methods using bioremediation and phytoremediation. He has been training 37 graduate students (12 PhD, 25 MSc) and supervised over 70 BSc theses. He has published over 200 papers/posters in refereed journals and at national and international conferences. He has given invited lectures in Canada, the USA, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China. He is a pioneer in the use of Technology in Teaching, giving numerous workshops to professors nationally and internationally. Dr. Sri Ranjan serves as a Teaching Mentor, helping new faculty at the university complete their training in the teaching certification program. He serves as the Associate Head (Graduate) in the department managing graduate student affairs.
He was elected a Fellow of the CSABE-SCGAB and awarded the Jim Beamish Award for his contributions to Soil and Water Engineering. He served as the Editor of the Canadian Biosystems Engineering Journal from 2006 to 2018. During that time, he modernized the paper submission to the Open Journal System. Since 2011, he has continued to volunteer his time transforming the accepted manuscripts into print-ready papers for publication. From 2011 to 2014, he was responsible for digitizing and using optical character recognition (OCR) to make the entire journal print collection from 1968 to 2000 freely searchable online.
2025 CSABE/SCGAB FELLOW & MAPLE LEAF AWARD
Dr. Qamar Zaman, Professor and Precision Agriculture Research Chair at Dalhousie University, has made significant contributions to the field of PA through his innovative research, teaching, and outreach initiatives. His work has notably advanced the wild blueberry industry in northeastern North America by developing technologies that enhance harvesting efficiency, improve crop yield and quality, and reduce production costs. The Wild Blueberry Harvester Efficiency Program, a collaboration between Dr. Zaman's team and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, exemplifies his commitment to applying research to real-world challenges, offering financial assistance to producers for adopting advanced harvester technologies. Dr. Zaman's research focuses on sustainable agriculture, bioinstrumentation, environmental stewardship, and automation, utilizing GPS, GIS, and variable rate technologies to optimize agricultural production systems. His development of automated variable-rate sprayers for spot application of agrochemicals addresses issues of over-application and under-application, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits. Through his teaching and mentoring contributions, Dr. Zaman imparts knowledge on PA technologies to students, preparing the next generation of agricultural engineers. His mentorship extends globally, fostering international collaborations and knowledge exchange. Dr. Zaman's work exemplifies the integration of research, education, and community engagement to achieve sustainable and economically viable agricultural practices, benefiting both local and global communities.
2024 Maple Leaf Award
Dr. Ying Chen, P.Eng. has been a professor at the University of Manitoba since 1997. She joined the academic staff in the Department of Biosystems Engineering after earning a BSc degree in Agricultural Engineering from Jiamusi Agricultural Machinery College in 1981, an MSc degree in Agricultural Engineering from Beijing Agricultural Mechanisation College in 1984, and a PhD in Agricultural Engineering from McGill University in 1992. With her training in agricultural machinery, she developed a successful research program focused primarily on soil tillage. Her efforts generated more than $3 million in research funding for the University of Manitoba, trained 32 graduate students (10 PhD, 22 MSc), and produced 123 peer-reviewed scientific publications. She was a member of the Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association from 2004-2010, the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems from 2014-2021, and the International Soil Tillage Research Organization from 2003-present. She has given over 30 invited presentations (internationally and within Canada), most related to the topic of soil tillage.
Throughout her career, Ying has received awards reflecting her excellence and commitment to all three components of academic service (i.e., research, teaching, and service). On two separate occasions, she received a Best Paper Award of Superior Paper Award. She received a Merit Award from the University of Manitoba in 2019 for her contributions to research. She has been recognized by CSBE/SCGAB on two separate occasions, receiving the Glenn Downing Award in 2006 and a Fellow Award in 2017. Within the past two years, Ying was also awarded a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2023) and a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (2024). Demonstrating her excellence as a university instructor, Ying received the Faculty of Engineering Award for Excellence in Engineering Education in 2017. Finally, demonstrating her commitment to service, Ying was named a recipient of the Outstanding Service Award by the Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological and Food Engineering in 2004 and was named a high-performance reviewer by ASABE in 2019. Within the CSBE/SCGAB community, Ying has been involved with the Canadian Biosystems Engineering journal as Associate Editor, Machinery Systems Section (2005-2008 & 2013-2017), as a member, vice-chair or chair of the Award Committee (2011-2018), and leading the Society as President-Elect, President, and Past-President (2021-2023).
Dr. Ying Chen has been a friend and valued colleague to professors and support staff in the Department of Biosystems Engineering for many years. Within the past three years, she provided leadership to our graduate programs serving as Associate Head (Graduate). Dr. Ying Chen is a worthy recipient of the Maple Leaf Award.
Dr. Ying Chen, ingénieur, est professeur à l'Université du Manitoba depuis 1997. Elle a rejoint le corps enseignant du Département d'ingénierie des biosystèmes après avoir obtenu une licence en ingénierie agricole au Jiamusi Agricultural Machinery College en 1981, une maîtrise en ingénierie agricole au Beijing Agricultural Mechanisation College en 1984 et un doctorat en ingénierie agricole à l'Université McGill en 1992. Grâce à sa formation en machinisme agricole, elle a développé un programme de recherche fructueux axé principalement sur le travail du sol. Ses efforts ont généré plus de 3 millions de dollars en financement de recherche pour l'Université du Manitoba, formé 32 étudiants diplômés (10 PhD, 22 MSc) et produit 123 publications scientifiques évaluées par des pairs. Elle a été membre de la Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association de 2004 à 2010, de l'International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems de 2014 à 2021 et de l'International Soil Tillage Research Organization de 2003 à aujourd'hui. Elle a donné plus de 30 présentations invitées (à l'étranger et au Canada), la plupart sur le thème du travail du sol.
Tout au long de sa carrière, Ying a reçu des prix reflétant son excellence et son engagement dans les trois composantes du service universitaire (recherche, enseignement et service). À deux reprises, elle a reçu le Best Paper Award ou le Superior Paper Award. Elle a reçu un prix du mérite de l'Université du Manitoba en 2019 pour ses contributions à la recherche. Elle a été reconnue par la CSBE/SCGAB à deux occasions distinctes, recevant le prix Glenn Downing en 2006 et un prix Fellow en 2017. Au cours des deux dernières années, Ying a également été nommée Fellow de l'American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (2023) et Fellow de l'Institut canadien des ingénieurs (2024). Démontrant son excellence en tant qu'enseignante universitaire, Ying a reçu le prix de la Faculté d'ingénierie pour l'excellence de l'enseignement de l'ingénierie en 2017. Enfin, démontrant son engagement envers le service, Ying a été nommée récipiendaire du Outstanding Service Award par l'Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological and Food Engineering en 2004 et a été nommée évaluatrice de haute performance par l'ASABE en 2019. Au sein de la communauté CSBE/SCGAB, Ying s'est impliquée dans le journal Canadian Biosystems Engineering en tant que rédactrice associée, section Machinery Systems (2005-2008 & 2013-2017), en tant que membre, vice-présidente ou présidente du comité des prix (2011-2018), et en dirigeant la société en tant que présidente désignée, présidente et présidente sortante (2021-2023).
Ying Chen est une amie et une collègue appréciée des professeurs et du personnel de soutien du Département d'ingénierie des biosystèmes depuis de nombreuses années. Au cours des trois dernières années, elle a assuré la direction de nos programmes d'études supérieures en tant que directrice adjointe (études supérieures). Ying Chen est une digne récipiendaire du prix Maple Leaf.
2021 Maple Leaf Award
Dr. CHANDRA MADRAMOOTOO is nominated for his contributions to engineering in agricultural, food and biological systems for service to CSBE/SCGAB and ASABE through Extension, Teaching, Research, and International activities. Dr. Chandra A. Madramootoo obtained his Ph.D degree in Agricultural Engineering from McGill University in 1985. He was elected to the CSBE/SCGAB grade of Fellow in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of soil and water resource engineering, teaching, and service to the Canadian Society for Bioengineering (CSBE/SCGAB). He is also a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). In 2012, the University of Guelph awarded him a DSc (Honoris Causa) degree and Convocation Address, to recognize his contributions to soil and water quality research in Canada. McGill University rewarded his achievements by granting him the James McGill Chair (McGill’s equivalent of CRC Tier I). He was also awarded the prestigious Jim Beamish Award by the Canadian Society of Agricultural Engineering for making outstanding contributions in teaching, research, extension, and industry in soil and water engineering. For his major contribution to the field of agricultural drainage, he was inducted into the International Drainage Hall of Fame in 2012. He became a fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Engineering in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of engineering. Finally, Dr. Madramootoo served from 2005 to 2015 as the Dean of Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and Associate Vice-Principal, Macdonald Campus, McGill University.
2019 Maple Leaf Award
Dr. Ali Madani has made significant contributions in teaching, research and service to academia and profession over the past 30 years. Dr. Madani was a professor at the Agricultural Engineering Department, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia from 1984 to 2011. He was appointed as an adjunct professor at McGill University in 2011. He has served the American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and Canadian Society for Bioengineering (CSBE) in various roles such as Chair, ASAE Drainage Research Committee, Chair of Drainage Benefits of the ASAE, Chair of Advisory Committee on Soil & Water of Atlantic Committee on Agricultural Engineering, Editor for the CSBE Newsletter, and Chair, CSBE Awards Committee. He also served as the CSBE Manager/Secretary from 2011 to 2013. Dr. Madani supervised, co-supervised, and was involved in educating more than 50 postgraduate students, post-doctoral fellows, visiting professors/scientists, etc. Dr. Madani and his research team received significant research funding to support these students and their research. He has published more than 250 papers in refereed journals, refereed conference proceedings, and conference papers. He is very well recognized for his contributions nationally and internationally. Dr. Madani is a worthy recipient of the Maple Leaf Award.
