Willard Boyle, John Hopps, Alice Wilson
Inducted into
Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame

Ottawa — Three outstanding Canadian scientists were inducted into the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame today during a ceremony at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.

Willard Boyle (1924-), John Hopps (1919-1998) and Alice Wilson (1881-1964) joined 34 other Canadian scientists, engineers and innovators who have been recognized in the Hall of Fame for exceptional scientific or technological achievements that have had long term implications for Canadians. Among them are such well known figures as Frederick Banting, Alexander Graham Bell and Wilder Penfield.

Nova Scotian Dr. Willard Boyle, is best known for co-inventing the charge-coupled device (CCD) in 1969 with fellow physicist George Smith. The CCD led to the development of digital cameras, scanners, fax machines and other technologies which rely on optical imaging. Its light sensitivity also revolutionized astronomy, allowing astronomers to capture images of objects too faint for photographic plates, which have a relatively brief exposure time. All modern optical research telescopes use CCDs to collect images, including the Hubble Space Telescope.

Dr. John A. "Jack" Hopps, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was the inventor of the heart pacemaker, which he developed with Drs. W.G. Bigelow and J.C. Callaghan at Toronto's Banting Institute in 1949. Hopps's work has enabled countless people around the world, including himself – ultimately a recipient of a pacemaker – to lead normal lives. He is considered the ‘father' of biomedical engineering in Canada, and his work on the pacemaker was only a part of his huge contribution to the field. As head of the Medical Engineering Section of the Division of Electrical Engineering at the National Research Council, Hopps led the group to produce a variety of inventions to help the blind, assist people with muscular disabilities and to advance the diagnostic uses of ultrasound. They also developed other technologies that built on his early cardiovascular research.

Dr. Alice Evelyn Wilson was a remarkable geologist from Cobourg, Ontario, who conducted extensive research into the sediments and fossils of the Ottawa-St. Lawrence lowlands. The important information she gathered on the geology and paleontology of the area around Cornwall, Ontario, was vital for the planning and construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Rising above her own health challenges, and working against formidable social and professional odds, she became the first female geologist in Canada and the first female professional with the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC). Wilson was an inspiring teacher, mentor and role model, pursuing and sharing her knowledge of geology tirelessly. When she officially retired from the GSC in 1946, the Survey hired five people to replace her, and even then she continued to work there daily until 1963, when she turned 82.

The Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame was originally established in 1991 by the Canada Science and Technology Museum and the National Research Council of Canada. It has since become a key part of the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and is now a permanent, interactive exhibition highlighting the achievements of its members. The Hall of Fame is housed within the museum's Innovation Canada exhibition, where visitors can take a hands-on approach to learning more about the inventions and technologies developed by these and other great Canadian scientists. The Museum has also incorporated a virtual Hall of Fame into its Web site.

Each year new Hall of Fame members are chosen by a selection committee representing a diversity of science and engineering institutions. Nominations for the Hall of Fame are welcomed from all Canadians, anywhere in Canada. For more information about how to nominate someone, visit the Museum's Web site.

The Canada Science and Technology Museum is located at 1867 St Laurent Boulevard in Ottawa.

General information: Call 613 991-3044 or our Toll free number: 1-866-442-4416.

Media contact:
Rita Signorini, (613) 993-9190, rsignorini@technomuses.ca