On October 14, 2008, at its biennial meeting in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Society of Marine Engineers (Sociedade Brasileria de Engenharia Naval, "SOBENA") presented to Professor Ronald W. Yeung of Mechanical Engineering (Fluid Mechanics and Ocean Engineering Groups) the Society's 2008 International Researcher Award.  The award cites Yeung's "outstanding contribution to the knowledge of Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering."  After the award presentation, Yeung delivered a keynote lecture entitled "Efficient Modeling of Separated Flows in Offshore and Ship Hydrodynamics."   Yeung's recent research have been focused on optimal multi-hull design, roll-motion damping of ocean systems, and ocean-energy extraction.

SOBENA is expected to continue to play a significant role in ocean technology development in Brazil as the country further develops its deepwater exploration and drilling technologies.  With the recent discovery of a giant reserve of oil and gas in the Santos Basin approximately 300 Km offshore southeast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian regulators and the nationally-owned oil company Petrobras are eager and poised to develop this field.  Brazil, already known for its success with developing sugar-cane based ethanol fuel, will boost its oil and gas reserve holding to the world's top 10 in the not-so-distant future.