Claire Deschênes facts for kids
Claire Deschênes, born in 1954, is a super smart Canadian engineer. She teaches engineering at Université Laval. She is also a member of the Order of Canada, which is a big honor!
Claire was the very first woman to become an engineering professor at Laval University. She is an expert in how water turbines work. She also knows a lot about how liquids and gases move, which is called fluid dynamics and fluid mechanics.
Quick facts for kids
Claire Deschênes
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| Born | Shawinigan  |
| Other names | Dame Turbine |
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Early Life and Education
Claire Deschênes faced some tough times when she was younger. Her dad passed away, and her mom got sick. Claire even took a year off school to help care for her mom.
She first studied psychology in college for two years. Then, she switched to math, physics, and biology. Claire decided to study mechanical engineering because she wanted a stable job. She thought she might need to help her brothers and sisters one day.
Claire was the only woman in her engineering program. She then earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Université Laval. Later, she got a scholarship to study in France.
She earned her PhD from the Grenoble Institute of Technology in France. There, she studied how to use computers to understand fluid movement in hydraulic turbines. After finishing her PhD in 1990, she returned to Université Laval. She became the first female engineering professor there.
Her Amazing Career
In 1989, Claire Deschênes started a special research center. It's called the Laboratoire de Machines Hydrauliques (LAMH). This center studies hydraulic turbines.
In 2007, she created something called the Consortium en machines hydrauliques. This group brings together universities and companies like Hydro-Québec. They work together to research powerful hydraulic turbines.
Claire and her team have received a lot of support. They get money from companies and government grants. This helps them buy equipment and do important research. For example, they use computer simulations to study how water flows in turbines. Their work helps us understand turbines and hydro-electric power better.
From 1997 to 2006, Claire helped lead a program at Université Laval. It was called the NSERC-Alcan International Limited Chair for Women in Science and Engineering. She also helped start three non-profit groups. These groups support and encourage women in science and engineering.
Claire Deschênes has received many awards and honors. In 2015, she won the Synergy Award for Innovation. This award recognized her great teamwork between universities and companies. She was also named a fellow of Engineers Canada in 2015.
In 2016, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things.
On June 27, 2019, Claire was made a member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors! She received it for her work in mechanical engineering. She was also honored for helping women in science and engineering. In 2020, she became a Knight of the National Order of Quebec.
On September 21, 2019, she received another honorary doctorate. This one was from the Université de Sherbrooke.
See also
- Karim Zaghib
- Prix Lionel-Boulet
