In Memoriam: Keith G. Balmain

摘要

Keith G. Balmain, a world-leading scholar in electromagnetics, antennas, electromagnetic compatibility, and antennas in plasmas, passed away on January 2, 2019. at the age of 85. Keith had a sharp and clear mind, and co uld simplify and explain complex concepts with ease. He was a scholar of high integrity and a great mentor. Keith Balmain’s intellect, integrity, humor, professionalism, and humanity will be greatly missed. Keith Balmain received the BASc in Engineering Physics from the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1957. He received the MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1959 and 1963, with theses on printed-circuit dipole antennas and spacecraft-borne dipole antennas in anisotropic plasma. He was an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois until 1966. He then joined what is now the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, holding the positions of Professor and, later on, of Professor Emeritus. From 1991 to 2001, he was the Senior Chair holder of the NSERC/Bell Canada/Nortel Industrial Research Chair in Electromagnetics. He chaired the Division of Engineering Science for two and one-half years until 1987, after which, for a three-year term, he chaired the University of Toronto’s Research Board. His research included antennas in plasma, broadband antennas, electromagnetic compatibility, human electrostatic discharge, radio wave scattering from power lines and buildings, Space Shuttle EMC prediction, electrostatic charging and discharging in spacecraft dielectrics, and microwave metamaterials.