François Tavenas, was a Canadian engineer and academic.

Born in Bourg-de-Péage

Bourg-de-Péage

Bourg-de-Péage is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-International relations:Bourg-de-Péage is twinned with: Schwaz, Austria Mindelheim, Germany Verbania, Italy Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Spain East Grinstead, United Kingdom-References:*...

, Drôme, France, he received an engineering degree in civil engineering from Institut national des sciences appliquées de Lyon

Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon

The Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon or INSA de Lyon is a Grande École d'Ingénieurs. INSA was founded in 1957 to train highly qualified engineers, support continuing education, and conduct research and testing. The five-year curriculum aims at training engineers who possess humane...

 in 1963 and a Doctorate with specialization in soil mechanics in 1965 from the Université de Grenoble

Joseph Fourier University

Université Joseph Fourier , often known as UJF, is a French university situated in the city of Grenoble and focused on the fields of sciences, technologies and health...

. In 1968, he moved to Canada to become a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Université Laval

Université Laval

Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...

. A Canadian citizen since 15 July 1971, he became an assistant professor in 1970, an associate professor in 1973, and a professor in 1978. He was the Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering from 1985 to 1989.

From 1989 to 1990, he was the Vice-Principal (Planning and Computing) at McGill University

McGill University

Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...

. From 1990 to 1997, he was the Vice-Principal (Planning and Resources) at McGill University. From 1995 to 1997, he was the Acting Vice-Principal (Macdonald Campus

Macdonald Campus

The Macdonald Campus of McGill University houses its Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, and the McGill School of Environment.- History :...

). As well, he was a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics. In 1997, he was appointed the rector of Université Laval and a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and in 2003 left to become the founding rector of the Université du Luxembourg

University of Luxembourg

thumb|Campus LimpertsbergThe University of Luxembourg is the only university in Luxembourg, founded on 13 August 2003. Prior to that, there were several higher educational institutions such as the cour universitaire or the IST that offered one or two years of academic studies...

.

Honours

• 1991 Elected as a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada
  Engineering Institute of Canada
  The Engineering Institute of Canada is a federation of twelve engineering societies based in Canada, covering a broad range of engineering branches, and with a history going back to 1887...
  
  .
• 1999 Made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.
• 2002 Awarded the Commander's Cross (Komturkreuz) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
• 2004 Made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec
  National Order of Quebec
  The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
  
  .