Sheng, Grant (On leave of absence)
Areas of Academic Interest
- Computer modeling and simulation;
- Ecological modeling;
- Nuclear and toxic waste disposal;
- Risk analysis;
- Influence of computer technology on culture and society;
- Facility siting processes.
I started out as a biologist studying evolutionary biology, and ecological modeling. In my upper undergraduate years, I became interested in the biological effects of radiation. In order to expand my scope, I did my master's degree at FES which allowed me the flexibility, otherwise not possible in traditional disciplinary programs, to pursue studies in impact assessment, law and economics. In expanding my continuing interest in radiation effects, I completed the nuclear engineering program at University of Toronto and finished a thesis on the effects of radiation on Scots Pine Seedlings. Shortly before completion of the MES degree, I landed a "dream" position as the Science Secretary of the Technical Advisory Committee to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited which was mandated to review and advise on Canada's nuclear waste disposal program. With my broad background in natural and social sciences and engineering, I was able to support the work of this unique committee comprised of 16 top academics in Canada with diverse specialties in geology, chemical engineering, materials science, ecology, radiation biology, computer science and physics. Realizing the critical importance of computer technology in practically all human endeavours, I completed a PhD in the Computer Science Department at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. I joined FES as a faculty member in 1995 and have become increasingly interested in the applications of computer and information technology to address environmental problems and sustainable community development.
My present research involves the application of computer and information technology to address environmental problems, more specifically, the use of GIS and remote sensing to search for potential hazardous disposal sites. Taking an even broader perspective, I am now developing information technology systems aimed at enabling public participation through web applications and the internet to work towards the goal of sustainable community development.
Select prizes and awards
- Certificate from the American Nuclear Society for professional contributions, 2001
- Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Researcher, 1998
- Plaque presentation from Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. for service to the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program, 1996
- Plaque presentation from the Nuclear Technical Review Board for service to the U.S. Nuclear Waste Disposal Program, 1994
Select publications
Sheng, G. Forthcoming. "The Importance of Values for Building Social Capital." In A. Dale, and J. Robinson (eds.) Social Capital and Sustainable Communities: The Missing Link. Vancouver: UBC press.
Almasi, I. and G. Sheng. Forthcoming. "The watershed approach to siting nuclear waste disposal facility using GIS - A model study," International Journal of Risk Analysis.
Sheng, G. 2000. "Some technical and ethical considerations in computer simulation," Transactions of the Society for Computer Simulation, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 171-180.
Sheng, G. and J. Tóth. 2000. "Using the recharge area concept as a strategy to locate underground nuclear waste repositories," Acta Geologica Hungaricae, (Földtani Közlöny), Vol. 130, No. 2.
Sheng, Y, G. Sheng, M. Shoukri, and P. Wood. 1998. "New Version of SIMPLET and Its Application to Turbulent Buoyancy-Driven Flows," Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A, No. 34, pp. 821-846.
Kanazawa, K., J.S. Chang, G.F. Round, G. Sheng, T. Ohkubo, Y. Nomoto and T. Adachi. 1998. "Reduction of NOx from flue gas by corona discharge activated ammonia radical showers," Journal of Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 133, pp. 93-105.
Sheng, Y., G. Sheng, M. Shoukri and P. Wood. 1998. "A modification to the SIMPLE method for buoyancy-driven flows," Numerical Heat Transfer, Part B., No. 33, pp. 65-78.
Kanazawa, K., J.S. Chang, G.F. Round, G. Sheng, T. Ohkubo, Y. Nomoto and T. Adachi. 1997. "Reduction of NOx from flue gas by corona discharge activated methane radical showers," Journal of Electrostatics, No. 40 & 41, pp. 651-656.
Shemilt, L. W. and G. Sheng. 1996. TAC, "Fifteenth Annual Report of the Technical Advisory Committee on the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program."
Tóth, J. and G. Sheng. 1996. "Enhancing Nuclear Waste Disposal Safety by Exploiting Regional Groundwater Flow: The Recharge Area Concept", Hydrogeology Journal, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 4-25.