Prof. David Wilkinson has been named one of the 2025 Fellow the Electrochemical Society. This designation was established in 1989 to recognize individual technological contributions to electrochemistry and solid state science and technology, as well as for scientific achievements, leadership and active participation in the Society. The induction of the 2025 ESC fellows took place in October at the 248th meeting of the ECS in Chicago, Il, USA.
David Wilkinson is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Clean Energy and Electrochemical Technologies at the University of British Columbia (UBC). His university research covers a wide range of electrochemical areas including fuel cells, electrolyzers, battery research, carbon dioxide and nitrogen conversion, electrochemical approaches to clean energy and fuels, and electrochemical treatment of wastewater and drinking water. Some of this research resulted in the formation of Mangrove Lithium, a new company using a modified electrodialysis process for improved lithium refining and recycling.
Prof. Wilkinson received a BASc in Chemical Engineering from UBC (1978) and PhD in Chemistry (1987) from the University of Ottawa under the guidance of Prof. Brian Conway. Before joining UBC in 2004, Prof. Wilkinson spent over 18 years in electrochemical industries, as a group leader in electrochemistry at Moli Energy developing rechargeable Li-metal batteries, and at Ballard Power Systems as a Director and Vice President of R&D in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and hydrogen technology. He was Group Leader and Principal Research Officer with the Canada National Research Council for a short period. In 2002, he received the ECS Battery Division Technology Award for his work related to rechargeable Li batteries and polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and the ECS Canadian Section Electrochemical Award in 2022.
Prof. Wilkinson has published more than 260 refereed publications, a co-authored book, a number of edited books and book chapters, and holds over 84 issued US patents. His research has been honored with awards that include the Grove Medal, Lifetime Award of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association and the Order of Canada, as well as fellowships in the Engineering Institute of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering, Chemical Institute of Canada, Royal Society of Canada, and the International Society of Electrochemistry. An ECS Emeritus Member, Prof. Wilkinson joined the Society in 1982 and served for many years as Member at Large for the ECS Canada Section.
The Electrochemical Society was founded in 1902 in Philadelphia, PA. as a forum for researchers to discuss the applications of electricity to chemical processes and chemical understanding. Since it’s inception, the Society’s members have included many distinguished scientists and engineers such as H. Dow (founder of Dow Chemical Company), E. Weston (founder of Weston Instruments) and Thomas Edison. The society holds annual meetings and publishes peer reviewed journals : The Journal of The Electrochemical Society and the Journal of Solid Stat Science and Technology. Lean more about the Electrochemical Society