Robert Tanner, Former Director of IEEE Canada, has recently received the Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from Concordia University. Educated at Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, England, he began his career with the British Broadcasting Corporation as a pioneer in the world's first high definition television station developing audio techniques and researching the acoustics of studios and concert halls.

In 1947, he emigrated to Canada and commenced an outstanding engineering career with Northern Electric, Bell-Northem Research, and subsequently the Canadian Department of Communications. He contributed to Canadian engineering in many fields, managing the development of products and systems from audio equipment to microwave relay stations. His skill as an engineer and a manager was recognized by his appointment in 1973 as Director of Industrial Research of the Canadian Department of Communications.

As a consultant, he was responsible for the acoustical design of many important buildings, including the Royal Canadian Mint and the Stratford Festival Theatre in Ontario. He dedicated himself to this work after leaving the Department of Communications in 1975, and has since carried out the acoustical design of many buildings, including an Air Force Academy for Saudi Arabia, and the new Canadian Embassy in Washington.

In his remarkable career, Mr. Tanner has received many awards for his work. He has been honoured with IEEE Canada's McNaughton Gold Medal, IEEE's Haraden Pratt Award and the Robert H. Tanner Lecture Series in Toronto. Four professional societies have conferred their highest honour on him: he is Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, Fellow of lEEE, Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, and Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (of Great Britain). He is also a Member of the Institute of Noise Control Engineers.

Mr. Tanner has expressed his dedication to his profession not only in his outstanding work in engineering, but also in his contribution to the advancement of science and engineering. He has been for many years active in the IEEE. He held the office of Director of the Canadian Region (Region 7), Secretary, Executive Vice-President, and in 1972, President, becoming the first and only member of the Canadian engineering Profession so far to hold this high office. In fact, he is the only non-American ever to have been elected to this position. To this day, he continues to be active in many of the Institute's committees.