RIT’s Nasr honored for engineering distinction

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A. Sue Weisler

Nabil Z. Nasr, associate provost for academic affairs and founding director of RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability

Nabil Z. Nasr, associate provost for academic affairs and founding director of Rochester Institute of Technology’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS), has been honored for a lifetime of engineering distinction and leadership by the Rochester Engineering Society (RES).

Nasr was named an Engineer of Distinction among leaders recognized for their excellence in the field by RES on April 8 during the society’s 115th annual gala at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

“This award and recognition by RES is a very special one for me since I’m being recognized by my engineering peers and colleagues in my hometown,” Nasr said. “I have been fortunate to work in the emerging field of sustainable manufacturing and to be at RIT, where I was given the opportunity and support.”

“I truly feel that my team at RIT is the one deserving recognition for giving me the opportunity to lead and for working to make our dreams reality,” he added. “I am fortunate to work with such a wonderful team and to follow my passion in the work I do.”

Nasr has worked in the fields of sustainable production, remanufacturing and sustainable product development for nearly three decades. He recently led the proposal development effort that resulted in the selection of GIS to lead the national consortium for the REMADE Institute, for which he currently serves as CEO. REMADE is short for Reducing Embodied-energy and Decreasing Emissions.

The national coalition of 26 universities, 44 companies, seven national labs, 26 industry associations and foundations and three states will collaborate on new clean energy initiatives, focusing on driving down the cost of technologies essential to reuse, recycle and remanufacture materials such as metals, fibers, polymers and electronic waste.

Nasr also is the founder of RIT’s Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery (C3R), which has become a world-leading source of applied research and solutions in remanufacturing technologies. The GIS director has developed strong ties to industry through efforts to implement and improve the sustainable design and remanufacturing processes at hundreds of companies from a wide range of industry sectors.

His research interests focus on remanufacturing, the circular economy, lifecycle engineering, cleaner production and sustainable product development—all disciplines for which he is widely recognized as an international leader in research and development efforts.

Nasr is a member of the International Resource Panel of the United Nations Environment Programme, or UNEP. He also serves on the advisory board of Resource Conservative Manufacturing (ResCoM) Consortium, which is working to develop an innovative methodology and software platform for the industrial implementation of closed-loop manufacturing systems. The consortium is co-funded by the European Commission

Nasr has served as an expert delegate with the U.S. government in several international forums such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

In addition to The National Academies National Research Council and the National Materials and Manufacturing Board (NMMB), Nasr served a three-year term as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Singapore Institute for Manufacturing Technology. He also was chair of the OECD Advisory Expert Group on Sustainable Production and Eco-innovation from 2008-2011.

Nasr earned two advanced degrees in engineering, including a master of manufacturing engineering from Penn State University, and a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from Rutgers University.

RES, founded in 1897, has held a gala every year since 1903 to recognize local engineers for outstanding professional achievements and community service. It also applauds activities that promote engineering excellence and leadership in the Rochester area.