Dr. Christopher P.L. Barkan, Professor, George Krambles Director of RailTEC and Director of the National University Rail Center of Excellence (NURail CoE), was recently named the recipient of the 2026 Worth Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award, presented at the 31st Annual Wheel/Rail Interaction (WRI) Heavy Haul Conference in Dallas, TX on 22-24 April 2026, is named for Art Worth, the former Manager of Standards and Senior Manager of Advanced Technology at Canadian National. The Worth Award is given to someone who has made a lasting impact on operations, practices, and/or safety in the railway industry over their career and has shared their experience and knowledge with the industry.
Wheel Rail Seminars, which established the Worth Award, presented this honor to Chris and recognized his lasting impact of bridging the gap between academia and the private sector through applied research that addresses real-world railroad challenges with vision and practical timing. As a dedicated mentor, Chris oversees graduate research with an emphasis on professional standards, ensuring a new generation of engineers is prepared to advance the industry through a comprehensive systems-based approach.
