Ghanaian Scientist honoured in USA

January 24, 2008 (Page 3)

A US-based Ghanaian scientist, Dr Fred McBagonluri, has been named the Black Engineer of the Year (Most Promising Scientist category) in the US.
Dr McBagonluri, the Director of Engineering at Siemens Hearing Instruments, will receive the award at the 22nd Annual Black Engineer of the Year Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, in February 2008.
The award recognises an engineer or scientist in the early years of his or her career who demonstrates tremendous potential for future technical contributions.
Commenting on the award in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr McBagonluri, 37, said, “Being the first Ghanaian to win this award enhances the global image of our country as a nation that produces excellence for the global stage.”
“It gives me the validation required to initiate and win the audience required to begin a national dialogue on what our education, scientific and technological road map ought to be,” Dr McBagonluri noted.
He further intimated that the award was a sign that Ghana’s educational products were globally competitive.
Dr McBagonluri thanked his colleagues at Siemens for their support and recognition and gave the assurance that he would do more to further project the company’s name.
The nominee’s unique contributions to the organisation, his leadership abilities, professional and technical achievements and potential for advancement were all considered before the award was given.
The awards were sponsored by the Council of Engineering Deans of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Lockheed Martin Corp, Career Communications Group, USBE and Information Technology magazine.
Dr McBagonluri, who joined Siemens in 2001, was cited for being the driving force behind revolutionising the technology in the hearing instrument market.
His work enabled great efficiency and quality gains in the manufacturing of hearing instruments and his leadership of the team combining 3D image processing, artificial intelligence, materials engineering and rapid prototyping into production were the main reasons for his recognition.
Since joining Siemens as a research engineer for 3D virtual modelling and manufacturing of in-the-ear-hearing-instruments, he has been promoted twice and now directs requirements engineering, software engineering and manufacturing engineering for a team that includes three managers responsible for 30 engineers.
Dr Gerhard Roehrlein, Executive Director, Product Lifecycle Management, Siemens Medical Instruments, commenting on Dr McBagonluri’s achievements, said, “His outstanding technological capabilities, together with his high work standards and dedication to be successful, captured my attention right from the beginning. Very soon, I recognised his natural leadership capability. He earned the respect of his colleagues easily through his competence, friendliness, foresight and communication skills.”
Dr McBagonluri who hails from the Upper West Region Schools attended
Nandom Secondary School and then proceeded to the St Augustine's College for his Advanced Level Certificated.
He then proceeded to Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio in 1991 and completed in 1996 with BS (Highest Distinction) in Manufacturing Engineering.
He is also an alumnus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he attained his masters in Engineering Mechanics as well as the University of Dayton, Dayton Ohio where he obtained PhD in Materials Engineering (Aeronautics
and Astronautics structural Systems)
Dr McBagonluri is married with two children.