I was fortunate to not only learn from his textbook but also to be a student in his class. Few have the privilege of learning directly from a legend, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been in the right place at the right time—more than 30 years ago—to benefit from his lectures.

Who am I talking about? Professor Adel Sedra.

I wanted to take a moment to congratulate Professor Sedra on the recognition of his incredible legacy with the launch of a new permanent exhibit at the University of Toronto. His textbook, Microelectronic Circuits, co-authored with the late Professor Kenneth C. Smith, has been a cornerstone of engineering education for decades. To date, it has gone through eight editions (with Professor Tony Chan Carusone also part of the editorial team), sold more than a million copies, and been translated into nearly a dozen languages.

Here’s a fact I only recently discovered: it’s estimated that over three-quarters of electrical engineers in the world since 1982 have studied this book—yes, 75%!—widely known as “Sedra/Smith” after its authors.

“When they first sat down in 1982 to create the first draft, I don’t think either of the two co-authors fully realized that it would become the gold standard in the field,” said Christopher Yip, Dean of U of T Engineering.

As a professor, Professor Sedra was simply unparalleled in the field of microelectronics. His passion for teaching was evident, and his exams? They were tough—though I like to think I did alright! 😉

Watching this video gave me goosebumps.

As a 20-year-old at the time, I didn’t fully comprehend or appreciate that I was sitting in a classroom with a legendary professor, studying one of the earlier editions of what would become a truly iconic textbook.

Professor Sedra’s contributions to engineering education and his impact on generations of students are unmatched. This exhibit is a fitting tribute to a man who shaped how the world learns about microelectronics.

You can read more about this celebration of his legacy here: U of T Engineering News.

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