In Memory of Ralph L. Harris, 1954-2007

In July, Ralph L. Harris, a professor in the Department of Mining and Materials Engineering at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, passed away suddenly at the age of 52. Harris was to take on the role of Dean of Academic Development at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, on August 1. He had been a member of TMS since 1991.

Harris began at McGill University as a graduate student in 1977, became a member of the academic staff in 1980, and rose to the rank of full professor in 2003.

"He was a dedicated teacher and favorite with his students," according to a tribute published on the McGill University web site. "He taught his specialty, extractive metallurgy, to both undergraduate and graduate students in the department, as wel 1 as a course on report writing and oral presentation skills.... He was well-known around the McGill campus."

Harris held a B.Sc. in metallurgy from the University of Queensland in Brisbane and did his graduate and doctoral work on vacuum refining of steel at McGill University. His research interests included extractive and process metallurgy. During his career, Harris authored 94 publications, attended 54 conferences, contributed to 99 industry reports, oversaw 34 graduate theses, and filed 11 distinct patents. He taught 11 new courses, mentored 40 graduate students, and delivered 42 invited presentations to academia and industry.

"He had an excellent relationship with, and was much loved by, his graduate students," said Cameron Harris of WorleyParsons. "As President of McGill's Association of University Teachers, he looked after his fellow academics' interests, and he became an advocate for the Centre for University Teaching and Learning, which helped professors become better teachers."