Officer of the Order of Canada
Dr. Lotfollah “Lot” Shafai
The Winnipeg scientist whose work is in your phone, on your TV, and orbiting the Earth.
For more than fifty years, Lot has been one of the world's leading inventors in antennas and electromagnetics — the science of how devices send and receive invisible signals through the air. From his lab at the University of Manitoba, he has helped shrink giant satellite dishes down to the palm-sized gadgets we now take for granted.
Read his story
50+
Years of research
45+
Major awards
5
Awards in his name
O.C.
Order of Canada, 2019
At a glance
- Born and educated in Iran; came to Canada in 1964 to study at the University of Toronto
- Joined the University of Manitoba in 1969 and has called Winnipeg home ever since
- Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Over 45 major awards, including the Killam Prize — Canada's top engineering honour
- An international IEEE award is named in his honour
- Inducted into the Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame in 2024
- Still mentoring students and publishing research today — now for free
"I was paid for so many years by universities, so I am just returning the favour."