M. Azizur Rahman
Md. Azizur (Aziz) Rahman (9 January 1941 – 16 June 2018) was a Canadian Bangladeshi inventor of modern energy-efficient electric motors that span multiple industry applications. He was an electrical engineer, professor, researcher and scientist. He is internationally recognized as one of the founding innovators of modern power engineering and a pioneer in the development and application of interior permanent magnet motors and associated drive technology-used in the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius. Since launching the Prius in 1997, Toyota surpassed global sales of 15 million hybrid vehicles in 2020, all  of which use Dr. Rahman's IPM motor drive. His research contributions were broad and adopted in a wide range of electric motor applications ranging from vacuum cleaners, air conditioners, elevators to aircraft. Born in Santahar, East Bengal (now Bangladesh) on 9 January 1941, Rahman emigrated to Canada as a Commonwealth Scholar in the early 1960s to attend the University of Toronto, where he studied electrical engineering. While pursuing his PhD at Carleton University's power laboratory in 1966, Rahman originated the concept of an IPM motor when he discovered that a hysteresis motor is a temporarily magnetized permanent magnet  synchronous machine. From them on, he has been solving problems involved in the design, manufacture and practical application of permanent magnet motors. In 1982, he successfully built the first self-start, high power rating (45 kW), high efficiency (>97%) and high power factor (>95%) IPM synchronous motor. Professor Rahman taught at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University from 1976 until his death on 16 June 2018. He was a frequent visiting professor and research consultant collaborating on a wide range of motor applications to major industrial and automotive companies. He volunteered significant portion of  his time to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and was recognized for his technical contributions by all IEEE power and energy societies. He published 757 papers including 196 IEEE transactions papers, 11 patents and two books. In 2011, He co-authored the first book, entitled "An Introduction to Wavelet Modulated Inverters". Dr. Rahman was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was granted Life Fellow by the IEEE. Medals and awards with citations. Rahman had a highly decorated career and won numerous international professional awards in the field of electric motors and machines . 2015, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC) Award, November 2015 "M. A. Azizur Rahman is an internationally-recognized scholar for his contributions to the development and promotion of the Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) technology. Highly efficient IPM motors and generators have proven to be critical for the development of hybrid electric vehicles. Azizur was a Visiting Professor at many world class Universities. He has received numerous awards such as the Gold Medal award for seminal contributions to engineering and the world." 2012, Prince Albert II Medal "For contributions on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies, EVER, Monaco March 2012  2010, The Institution of Bangladesh Engineers (IEB) Gold Medal Outstanding Contributions to the Profession and the Nation" 2009, Canadian Academy of Engineering Fellow Award "For outstanding contributions to the design, development, analysis, controls and application of interior permanent magnet (IPM) synchronous motors and associated drive systems. Dr. Rahman has been repeatedly honored by his peers for his technical contributions and leadership in promoting IPM technology worldwide, and he is the only person to receive highest awards from four IEEE societies. His IPM design innovations have had significant economic and environmental benefits worldwide, including reducing costs to consumers and increasing energy  efficiency of air conditioning systems, and he is the father of modern energy-efficient hybrid electric vehicles." 2008, A.D. Dunton Distinguished Alumni Award of Carleton University "Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Power Engineering" 2008, IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Distinguished Service Award 2007, IEEE Dr. Ing Eugene Mittelmann Outstanding Award from Industrial Electronics Society "Award for his lifelong outstanding contributions to interior permanent motor (IPM) drive systems and associated delta, pulsewidth and wavelet modulated Inverter Systems" 2005, Khwarizmi International Award, 2005 (UNESCO Sponsored Award) "For his achievements in Science for the Khwarizmi International Prize" 2004, IEEE William E.  Newell Power Electronics Award "For Outstanding Contributions in Power Electronics" 2004, IEEE IAS Distinguished Lecturer Award, January 2004 – 2005 2003, IEEE Cyril Veinott Electromechanical Energy Conversion Award from PES "For Contributions to the Design and Analysis of Hysteresis and Permanent Magnet Motors" 2000, IEEE Third Millennium Medal "For Outstanding Achievement and Contributions" 1998, Fellow, Engineering Institute of Canada "In Recognition of his Excellence in Engineering and for services re-tendered to the Profession and to Society" 1996, IEEE Canada Outstanding Engineering Education (Ham) Medal "For life-long contributions in Electric Machines and Power Electronics Education" 1994, Association of Professional Engineers  & Geoscientists of Newfoundland Merit Award, 1994 "In Recognition of having made Outstanding Contributions to the Engineering Profession and the Community" 1993, University Research Professorship, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1993 "In Recognition of an illustrious career in Scholarly Research" 1993, Outstanding Achievement Award for North American of Bangladesh Origin, 1993 "For Outstanding contributions in Engineering 1992, IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) Outstanding Achievement Award, 1992 With the following citation: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the Applications of Electricity to Industry" 1988, IEEE Fellow Award, "For Contributions to the design and analysis of Hysteresis and Permanent Magnet Motors" 1980, IEEE Outstanding  Counselor's Award, 1980 "For leadership for MUN IEEE students" 1978, General Electric Centennial Award for Invention Disclosures, December 1978 "For hysteresis permanent magnet motors" PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTIONS PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP AND REVIEWERSHIP