The Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, has been inducted into the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame.
The induction took place as part of the 114th James Watt Dinner hosted by the Institute of Engineers in Scotland (IES) at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Friday 4 October.
Founded in 2011, the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame celebrates the contribution made by Scottish Engineers. A selection panel, made up from representatives from many engineering institutions and organisations with an interest in engineering, assesses nominations and successful candidates are announced at the Dinner each year.
Better world
Sir Jim said: “It is an honour to receive this recognition and join such luminaries as James Watt, Sir Alexander Gibb and Sir William Arrol, as well as ‘Strathclyders’ such as James ‘Paraffin’ Young, James Blyth and Henry Dyer.
“It has been a privilege for me to lead the University of Strathclyde – home to the largest Engineering Faculty in Scotland – as well as hold the post of President of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
“Throughout my career I have championed the role of engineering in building a better world and tackling the grand challenges of our age such as climate change, decarbonising energy, public health and resilient infrastructure.”
Stellar career
Chair of the Selection Panel of the Hall of Fame, Gordon Masterton, said: “Sir Jim has had a stellar career as an engineer, an educator and senior advisor to government, culminating in serving as President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the first from Scotland to be appointed to this prestigious post.
“His energy, enthusiasm and zeal for excellence shine through all his endeavours. A very worthy addition to the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame.”
A three-time graduate of Strathclyde, having taken his BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in the areas of electronic and electrical engineering, electrical power engineering and energy economics, Sir Jim worked in the electricity utility sector for seven years before returning to Strathclyde in 1984 as a University Grants Commission New Blood Lecturer in Electrical Engineering.
He was appointed to the Rolls-Royce Chair in Electrical Power Systems in 1993, was Head of Department in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Deputy Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange before he became Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Strathclyde in March 2009.
Sir Jim was knighted in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List in June 2012 for Services to Education, Engineering and the Economy and was elected President of the Royal Academy of Engineering in October 2019, becoming the first Scot to hold the post.
He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s 2024 New Year’s Honours list. The award is for his Services to Engineering, to Education and to Energy.
The Hall of Fame includes other notable ‘Strathclyders’, such as Carol Marsh, Head of Digital Systems at Celestia and Strathclyde Alumna of the Year 2022; Craig Clark, professor of practice for Space and founder of ClydeSpace; and honorary graduate Sir Donald Miller, who played a major role in the development of the electricity supply system in Scotland.