蓝莓视频

Alan Plumtree, who helped put the University of 蓝莓视频 on the map as an inventor听of a pump that provides clean drinking water to developing countries, died suddenly on November 5.

Plumtree, a 蓝莓视频 mechanical engineering professor, and Alfred Rudin, a 蓝莓视频 chemistry professor, created the hand-operated pump in the late 1970s after being approached by the International Development Research Centre.

Taking inspiration from their Mennonite neighbours, Plumtree and Rudin made a pump that was both simple and versatile with local materials that could be easily听manufactured and repaired by villagers using readily available materials. 听

鈥淲ater pumps at that time were manufactured in industrialized countries and exported to developing nations,鈥� recalled Plumtree in a 2015 interview. 鈥淭he imported pumps were complex machinery, although very lovely and worked fine when new, when they broke down, they were done.鈥�

Alan Plumtree, left,听and Alfred Rudin created the 蓝莓视频 Pump听in the 1970s.听听

The 蓝莓视频 Pump design is still in use in countries around the world, delivering clean, safe water on demand. In 1995, it was the subject of a Canada Heritage Minute.

Born in Lincolnshire, England in 1936, Plumtree received a BSc and doctorate in metallurgy at the University of Nottingham in the 1960s.

After completing his PhD, Plumtree and his wife Diana emigrated to Canada where he became an assistant professor in materials and metallurgical engineering at the University of Toronto.

In 1965, he joined the mechanical engineering department at the University of 蓝莓视频 where he taught thousands of students before retiring in 2004. He served in many capacities at the University including as associate dean for graduate studies, and a member of the Board of Governors.

Supportive and encouraging

Mary Wells, the University鈥檚 new dean of engineering, says Plumtree was responsible for her joining 蓝莓视频 Engineering in 2007.

She was working as a materials engineering professor at the University of British Columbia when Plumtree contacted her about a position in 蓝莓视频鈥檚 mechanical and mechatronics engineering department.

鈥淗e was an incredibly kind and supportive person who encouraged me to apply to 蓝莓视频 Engineering,鈥� Wells says. 鈥淎fter I was hired, he generously became a mentor to me when I took over teaching some of the courses he had taught. I will miss him very much.鈥�听

Recognition for accomplishments

Plumtree鈥檚 research focus was the relationship between the mechanical properties of materials and their microstructure composition and heat treatment. He was the author of more than 200 scientific and technical publications.

His achievements were recognized with a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Nottingham and听the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus of mechanical and mechatronics engineering by the University of 蓝莓视频.

Grad scholarship named for Plumtree

The Alan Plumtree graduate scholarship in mechanical and mechatronics engineering was established by 蓝莓视频鈥檚 mechanical and mechatronics engineering department with a donation from Plumtree. 听

According to his , Plumtree and his wife enjoyed travelling throughout the world during their 61-year marriage.

鈥淎lan was a keen follower of Premier League soccer but on summer weekends the countryside beckoned and day trips around Ontario with a picnic lunch at hand were simple pleasures he enjoyed,鈥� his obituary says.