Ömer Gülder is a Professor at the University of Toronto's Institute for Aerospace Studies. A world-class researcher and engineer in the areas of propulsion and combustion, he established the Combustion Research Laboratory at the National Research Council and was Head of the Laboratory from 1990 to 2001. Professor Gulder's research is focused on improving the efficiency of combustion in both traditional and alternative fuels; he has published over 250 papers in this area and his collaborations with the Canadian aerospace industry are contributing to improved competitiveness and reduced environmental impact in this sector.