Michael F. Cunningham, PhD, P.Eng., FCIC, FCAE, FEIC

A professor of chemical engineering at Queen’s University and Ontario Research Chair in Green Chemistry and Engineering, Dr. Michael Cunningham’s contributions in sustainable engineering, replacing solvent-based processes with water-based processes, and developing sustainably sourced materials have had significant environmental, health and economic impacts on society, and influenced the thinking and work of his peers.

Dr. Cunningham has spent over 25 years studying how to reduce the environmental and health-related impacts of processes used to make polymeric materials, which comprise a major segment of the global materials market. His focus has been on replacing environmentally harmful processes that employ organic solvents with environmentally benign water-based processes. At Queen’s University, he leads a research program that has developed: (1) water-based alternatives to VOC-based processes; (2) new composite materials based on renewable natural polymers, and; (3) new stimuli-responsive polymer materials that use CO2 as a benign trigger. Much of his pioneering research has focused on developing innovative materials, adapting these new reactions to water-based processes instead of using organic solvents.

He is a passionate educator in academia and industry. He received the 125th Anniversary Queen’s Engineering Excellence Faculty Award for engineering and teaching excellence, and the Queen’s Research Excellence Prize—the university’s highest recognition for research excellence.

Dr. Cunningham has over 200 publications in refereed journals, 30 patents or patent applications. He began his career at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada where he developed water-based coatings to replace existing solvent-based processes, for which he received 26 US patents.