This conference is dedicated to Professor David W. Shoesmith on the occasion of his 80th birthday, honouring his exceptional contributions and lasting influence in corrosion science and electrochemistry. Over a remarkable career spanning nearly five decades, Dave has seamlessly combined fundamental research with practical industrial applications. Before becoming a professor at the University of Western Ontario, he spent 25 years at Atomic Energy of Canada, where he established himself as a leading expert in electrochemistry and corrosion science. At Western, he further cemented his legacy through nearly two decades as the NSERC/NWMO Industrial Research Chair in Nuclear Fuel Disposal Chemistry, while also serving as the director of Surface Science Western, a world-class surface analytical facility. His groundbreaking research has provided critical insights into materials corrosion, significantly advancing global understanding of challenges like the safe disposal of nuclear waste and maintaining pipeline integrity.
Dave’s outstanding work has earned widespread recognition and numerous prestigious awards. Notably, he received the Electrochemical Society’s esteemed H. H. Uhlig Award in 2015, one of the highest honours in the corrosion research community, and the U. R. Evans Award from the Institute of Corrosion. His election as a Fellow of both the ECS in 2011 and the Royal Society of Canada in 2016 further highlights the depth of respect and admiration for his contributions. Additional accolades from NACE International (Whitney Award) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (Morris Cohen Award) confirm his prominent role as a leader in his field. By dedicating this conference to Dave, we celebrate not only his extensive scientific achievements but also his commitment to mentorship and education, which have inspired countless students and researchers and continue to fuel advancements in corrosion science and electrochemistry.