Memorial Tribute – Byung Chan Eu (1935–2023)

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Professor Byung Chan (“BC”) Eu on August 25^th, 2023, at the age of 88 while in hospital. BC was born in 1935 in Seoul, Korea and earned a BSc in Chemistry at Seoul National University in 1959. He was admitted to the graduate school of Seoul National University in 1960, but soon was drafted into the Korean army which he served until 1962. On his discharge from the army, he left Korea to pursue his graduate studies at Brown University, earning a PhD in 1965, and completing a research fellowship at Harvard University in 1967. In 1967, he joined the Chemistry Department faculty at McGill University, where he spent over fifty years of a productive and innovative academic career and was named Professor Emeritus in 2001.

A gifted scholar and profound intellectual, BC pursued his academic studies as he did everything – with great drive, discipline, dedication, commitment, and quiet passion. He became known internationally for his major contributions to molecular scattering theory, non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, fluid dynamics and irreversible thermodynamics. His fundamental work had direct applications to numerous fields including semiconductors and quantum devices, aerospace, materials processing, plasma and radiation research. BC has published more than 250 research articles, 55 book chapters, and 7 books many of which remain the key references for theorists to this day. His work was recognized by an Alfred Sloan Fellowship and he was inducted into the Korea Academy of Science and Technology.

On July 7th, 2022, his 87th birthday, BC presented a plenary lecture at the 32nd International Symposium on Rarefied Gas Dynamics in Seoul, Korea. The journey that had started exactly 60 years earlier had come full circle with the presentation of his life’s scientific contributions in his beloved motherland.

BC will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He leaves behind his ever devoted and loving wife, Hui Young, his two children David and Cathy and his five grandchildren, Matthew, Megan, Justin, Jacqueline, and Jason, as well as the many others whose lives he touched.