Officer of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: May 12, 2016
• Invested on: February 17, 2017

For his leadership in establishing the Canadian Light Source research facility, and for his seminal scientific contributions using synchrotron radiation.

One of our foremost materials chemists, T. K. Sham has helped build an optimal environment for Canadian scientists to conduct advanced research. A Canada Research Chair and professor at Western University, he has used focused beams of light known as synchrotron radiation to analyze the microstructure and properties of materials, which has generated advances in nanotechnology and X-ray technology. He is further renowned for his leadership in developing the Canadian Light Source, a state-of-the-art research facility in Saskatchewan, and for fostering collaboration between researchers in Canada and China.