Rules of Thumb in Engineering Practice

Donald R. Woods is Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University. He received his BSc from Queen's University, his MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin and worked for a wide variety of industries before joining McMaster University in 1964. His research interests are in process design, cost estimation, surface phenomena, problem-based learning, assessment, improving student learning and developing skill in problem solving, group and team work, self assessment, change management and lifetime learning. He has won numerous awards for leadership and teaching including the Canadian 3M Fellow, honorary Doctor of Science degrees (Queen's University, University of Guelph), the President's Award for Educational Leadership, co-winner of the President's Award for Course Development, Lifetime Achievement Award from Chemical Engineering Education and Wickenden Award from ASEE (twice). He has over 400 publications including the books Financial Decision making in the Process Industry, Process Design and Engineering Practice, and Problem-based Learning - How to Gain the Most from PBL.The latter has been translated into Japanese, Korean and Spanish. He is one of 20 Chemical Engineers from industry, government and universities to receive the Century of Achievement Award from the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering for distinguished contributions to Chemical Engineering.