Dr. Ashok Vijh is Maître-de-recherche at the Institut de recherche d’Hydro-Québec (IREQ) and, concurrently, Invited Professor at the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS) of Université du Québec, both in Varennes, Qc., CANADA. He earned his BSc. (Hons) in Chemistry in 1960, M.Sc. (Hons.) in Physical Chemistry in 1961, both from Panjab University Chandigarh. His earned Ph.D. is in Electrochemistry from the University of Ottawa. He has also received Honorary Doctorates from Concordia University, University of Waterloo, Panjab University and INRS of University of Quebec system. After obtaining his Ph.D. in 1966, he worked for three years in the U.S.A. before joining his present positions in 1969.
Elected to The Royal Society of Canada in 1985, he was President of The Academy of Science of The Royal Society of Canada (2005-2007), and, per office, a Vice-President of The Royal Society of Canada. He is an electrochemist of international stature who has published over 390 refereed papers and eight books on various areas of interfacial electrochemistry, including on electrochemical treatment of cancerous tumours. His work has been recognized by the award of over 60 distinctions: prizes, medals, decorations, fellowships, honorary doctorates, academy memberships and membership in international editorial boards. His research contributions have been recognized by his peers in the areas of Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Energy Science. He has also made notable published contributions to the philosophy of science, science and ethics, creativity in science and its inhibition, intellectual roots of innovation, science policy, and science as culture. Some of his recent work has also explored the theoretical connections between immunology and cancer, and the theory and experimental work on the Electrochemical Treatment of Solid Cancerous Tumours.
He is a FELLOW of: The Royal Society of Chemistry; The Institute of Physics (U.K.); The American Physical Society; Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE); an Elected Visiting Fellow of St-Edmund’s College, Cambridge University (2005,2006). His Academy memberships include: The Royal Society of Canada; TWAS—The World Academy of Sciences (Trieste, Italy); EASAL--- European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (Paris); INSA—Indian National Science Academy (Foreign Fellow). INSA also awarded him the prestigious international Chair as The D.S. KOTHARI Visiting Professor for 2014/2015.
He was the youngest winner of the I.W. KILLAM Memorial Prize—the highest Canadian prize in any field of science-- of The Canada Council in 1987. He was the first physical scientist to become a Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 1987, promoted to the rank of Officer in 2008. He was decorated as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1990.He was made a Knight of the Order of Montreal in the Inaugural election in 2017. He received the Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) and the Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
He is married to Dr. Ratna Ghosh, C.M., O.Q., O.O.M., F.R.S. Canada, Distinguished James McGill Professor and W.C. Macdonald Professor of Education and former Dean of the Faculty of Education, McGill University.
FIELDS OF RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
edit· Electrochemistry
· Electrochemical Physics of Surfaces
· Solid State Materials Science of Interfaces
Dr. Ashok Vijh has authored well over 30 refereed publications, including books (three authored or co-authored + 4 edited books) and chapters (20), in these areas.
SUMMARY OF HONOURS AND DISTINCTIONS (ASHOK K. VIJH)
Chemistry
edit· Prix LASH MILLER of the Electrochemical Society
· NORANDA Lecture Award of the Chemical Institute of Canada
· The Chemical Institute of Canada (C.I.C.) Medal
· Compagnon de Lavoisier (The Order of Chemists of Quebec)
· Fellow, The Royal Society of Chemistry (U.K.)
Physics
edit· Fellow, The Institute of Physics (U.K.)
· Fellow, The American Physical Society
Engineering
edit· Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (U.S.A.)
· Thomas W. EADIE Medal of The Royal Society of Canada
· Director, Applied Sciences and Engineering Division of The Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Canada (1990-92)
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
edit· Prix Urgel Archambault of ACFAS (Association Canadienne Française pour l'Avancement des Sciences)
· Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada
· Isaak Walton KILLAM Memorial Prize of the Canada Council
· Director, Mathematical and Physical Sciences Division of The Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Canada (1994-97)
· Prix MARIE-VICTORIN (Prix du Québec) 1998 (Pure and Applied Science)
Members of the Ordre
Regardless of their sphere of activity, members of the Ordre de Montréal share the same commitment to excellence. These exceptional
men and women contribute to making our world a better place and inspire pride in all Montrealers.
Ashok Vijh
KNIGHT 2017
Nicknamed the “father of electrochemical physics”, Ashok Vijh is a distinguished scientist and a founding member of the
HydroQuébec
Institute of Research (IREQ). He is behind dozens of scientific breakthroughs, which have resulted in
innovations across many different sectors, including energy, electric industry and certain areas of cancer research.
Mr. Vijh actively contributed to the development of the electrochemical laboratories of the IREQ. He has earned international recognition
through the publication of over 380 articles and seven books on interfacial electrochemistry, energy conversion and storage, and the
electrochemical treatment of cancerous tumours, among many others. His contributions also extend to other areas, such as the
interaction of science and society, including ethics, professional conduct, creativity, science as culture, science policy and philosophy of
science.
Ashok Vijh is a guest professor and thesis adviser at the INRS (Institut national de la recherche scientifique). In addition, he has
mentored many students and professors, who have gone on to contribute to the advancement of science. Driven by humanistic and
ethical considerations, he promotes the role of science and research in society.
Born in India, Mr. Vijh was the first Canadian of nonEuropean
extraction to be elected President of the Academy of Science of the Royal
Society of Canada, a position he held from 2005 to 2007. He also chaired the NATO Committee on Peace and Science and the NATO
Committee on Physics, Chemistry and Biology. He is a fellow of several learned societies and academies around the world, including the
World Academy of Sciences in Italy, the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters in France as well as the Royal Society of
Chemistry and the Institute of Physics in the United Kingdom. In addition, he was elected as Visiting Fellow of the St. Edmund’s College
at Cambridge University.
Ashok Vijh has received over 60 major distinctions, such as the Thomas W. Eadie Medal of the Royal Society of Canada in 1989, the
Chemical Institute of Canada Medal in 1990 and the Prix du Québec MarieVictorin
for Pure and Applied Sciences in 1998. He was the
youngest winner of the Killam Memorial Prize of the Canada Council in 1987. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1989,
a Knight of l’Ordre national du Québec in 1986 and subsequently promoted to Officer of that Order in 2008. He has also received the
Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal and Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Mr. Vijh holds a doctorate in electrochemistry from the University of Ottawa and honorary doctorates from Concordia University, the
University of Waterloo, Punjab University and the INRS (Institut national de la recherche scientifique).