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Dr. Travis Esau beganhis Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering in 2012 under the supervision of Dr. Qamar Zaman.

The summers of 2007, 2008 and 2009, Travis worked in the Engineering Department on precision agricultural technologies under the direction of Dr. Qamar Zaman. After graduating in 2010, Travis went on to complete a Master of Science through the Faculty of Agriculture in precision agriculture.

He earned a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada industrial postgraduate scholarship sponsored by Doug Bragg Enterprises Ltd. During Falll Convocation ceremonies, Travis received the highest degree (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering.

Dr. Travis Esau developed and evaluated smart sprayer for his thesis entitled, “Smart sprayer for spot application of agro-chemical in wild blueberry fields.” Instead of uniformly applying herbicides, the cameras pick up where the target weeds are in the fields.

“If it’s a fungicide, the nozzles shut-off in bare-spot areas,” says Travis. “It makes for substantial agrochemical savings and it’s better for the environment.”

Congratulations Travis!