Claire Deschênes

Professor Claire Deschênes is an engineering pioneer and world-renowned researcher in hydraulic turbine technology. The first woman to hold a professorship in engineering at Université Laval, she has worked throughout her distinguished career to expand the role of women in science and engineering.

Internationally renowned expertise

When Professor Deschênes was hired by the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1989, she first worked on low head turbines before directing her research towards heavy-duty turbines in order to better integrate new energy sources (solar and wind) into electricity production. In 1994, she created the Hydraulic Machines Laboratory, which has since become a global authority in the field.

Known for both her professional and interpersonal skills, Professor Deschênes achieved a rare feat: she convinced academics and competing industry partners to work together in a common research structure to develop core knowledge and concrete solutions for everyone's benefit. Her leadership led to the launch of the Consortium on Hydraulic Machines in 2007. The consortium works on a collaborative, precompetitive model to make turbines more suitable for the hydroelectricity market and extend their lifespans. Under Professor Deschênes skilled guidance, the consortium has established Québec as a major heavy-duty turbine development hub and made it more competitive in the hydroelectric industry. The consortium received the 2014 NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation.

Professor Deschênes has distinguished herself as an educator and researcher, with more than$20 million in grants awarded for her work. She has authored or coauthored more than 100 articles, book chapters, and conference papers. She has also supervised nearly 50 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

A commitment to the advancement of women in STEM

Since graduating in the '70s as the sole woman in her class, Claire Deschênes has blazed a trail for other women who, like her, aspire to careers in engineering. As holder of the first NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering in Québec (1997 to 2006), she advocated for the professional development of women scientists and engineers. Professor Deschênes is also the cofounder of three organizations that support women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to promote equality in academia and in wider society: Association de la francophonie à propos des femmes en sciences, technologies, ingénierie et mathématiques, the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists, and the Canadian Institute for Women in Engineering and Sciences. In 2017, she became director of the multidisciplinary journal Recherches féministes, and she remains deeply committed to the promotion of women's expertise in all fields of knowledge.

The considerable achievements of Claire Deschênes have earned her numerous honours and awards. She is a Member of the Order of Canada, Knight of the Order of Québec, Fellow of Engineers Canada, and recipient of two honorary doctorates. She has also won many awards and prizes, including a prestigious Prix du Québec, the Lionel-Boulet Award for Industrial Research and Development. Through her work, Professor Deschênes has helped society advance and showcased Québec expertise on the world stage.