Dr. Pendergast has 35 years experience in the energy industry as an engineer and educator. He graduated with a B. Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta in 1963 and worked in Alberta industry for three years before entering New Mexico State University in 1967. He earned a Masters and a Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering from that institution in 1970. He spent four years as Assistant Professor of Engineering at universities in the United States and Nigeria.
He joined Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) in 1974 where he was involved in professional and managerial aspects of CANDU nuclear reactor safety analysis, environmental assessment and reactor licensing. Since 1990, he concentrated on extensive study and involvement in issues relating to energy and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of this expertise, a national industry association chose him to represent it on the "Technology Issue Table" of Canada’s National Climate Change Process. The Technology Table was one of sixteen Issue Tables, involving 450 experts, established to help develop Canada’s response to the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gases. On completion of the Technology Table's work he was selected to join the "Integrative Group." The Integrative Group, composed of stakeholder and government representatives, reviewed Canada's developing action plans to meet the commitment made at Kyoto and subsequent United Nations meetings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
He retired from AECL and established Computare in 2000 with a goal to broaden the scope of his involvement in the climate change issue. His focus is on the role energy may play in finding ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. He now maintains a website (www.computare.org) which documents his experience with the development of energy and climate change policy. He currently serves as Chair of the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Nuclear Society, a volunteer based non-profit organization focusing on the advancement of nuclear technology.
