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CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

ASEE Prism, Feb 2008

MAIN PLENARY

Sponsored by Lockheed Martin

THE MAIN PLENARY IS TRADITIONALLY THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SESSION AT THE ASEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WITH OVER 2,000 ATTENDEES ENJOYING THIS IMPORTANT KEYNOTE ADDRESS. THIS YEAR, ASEE IS PLEASED TO HAVE THE PARTICIPATION OF A VISIONARY LEADER IN ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

Charles M. Vest, long an influential figure in engineering, science, education and public policy, was elected in March 2007 to a six-year term as president of the National Academy of Engineering, part of the National Academies. In addition to leading an organization made up of the nation's premier engineers, he also serves as vice chairman of the National Research Council, the principal research arm of the National Academies.

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Vest was president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1990 through 2004. During that time, he worked to strengthen federal-university-industry relations and undertook a number of initiatives to bring education and research issues to broader public attention. Vest placed special emphasis on enhancing science and engineering in undergraduate education. While stressing the importance of racial and cultural diversity among faculty and students at MIT, Vest also worked to build a stronger international dimension into the university's programs.

Beyond academics. Vest has used his strong engineering and science background to contribute to public policy. Following revelations of serious U.S. intelligence lapses in assessing Iraq's weapons programs, Vest was named to the bipartisan Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, led by Laurence H. Silberman, a senior U.S. appeals court judge, and Charles L. Robb, a former U.S. senator from Virginia. The panel issued its report in 2005.

Earlier, Vest led a U.S. Department of Energy task force on the future of science programs in 2002-2003 and chaired a presidential advisory commission on the redesign of the International Space Station in 1992-1994. Vest was vice chair of the Council on Competitiveness for eight years, is a former chair of the Association of American Universities, and served on the U.S. secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education.

Vest was elected to the NAE in 1993 "for technical and educational contributions to holographic interferometry and leadership as an educator," and he currently serves on the NAE Council.

Vest was awarded the 2006 National Medal of Technology for "his visionary leadership in advancing America's technological workforce and capacity for innovation through revitalizing the national partnership among academia, government, and industry."

Among Vest's career honors is the NAE's Arthur M. Bueche Award, given in 2000 to recognize his efforts to increase government support for research. Vest has served on numerous National Academies studies, most recently the widely cited Rising Above the Gathering Storm, which highlights the roles of science and engineering in U.S. economic growth and competitiveness.

Vest earned a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University in 1963. He received both his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan in 1964 and 1967, respectively, where he later held the positions of dean of engineering, provost, and vice president for academic affairs. He is the recipient of 10 honorary doctoral degrees.

DISTINGUISHED LECTURES

Tuesday, June 24

10:30 A.M. - NOON

The X-48B

DR. ROBERT LIEBECK

Project Manager, Blended-Wing-Body Program, Boeing

Dr. Robert Liebeck is currently program manager of the BlendedWing-Body Program at Boeing. In his 46 years at Boeing, he has served as program manager on numerous classified advanced-concept airplane programs, some of which culminated in successful flight vehicles. He has an extensive list of technical publications, and his airfoil work is discussed in several textbooks on aerodynamics. liebeck is also professor of the Practice of Aeronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and adjunct professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California Irvine, where he teaches courses in aerodynamics, flight mechanics and airplane design. He received B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign, and received the university's College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1996.

Sponsored by: Aerospace Division

The Future(s) of Energetics

DANIEL BUSHNELL

Chief Scientist, NASA Langley

As chief scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, Dennis M. Bushnell is responsible for Technical Oversight and Advanced Program formulation, with technical emphasis on areas of atmospheric sciences and structures, materials, acoustics, flight electronics/control/software, instruments, aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, spacecraft, space access and other areas. His technical specialties include flow modeling and control across the speed range, advanced configuration aeronautics, aeronautical facilities and hypersonic airbreathing propulsion. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the ASME, AIAA and the Royal Aeronautical Society. He holds numerous awards and distinctions from governmental agencies, professional societies and academia, and has served national and international organizations as a consultant or committee member. He has served as reviewer and editor for 40 journals. During his 44-year career, Bushnell has authored more than 252 publications and major presentations, and delivered nearly 310 invited lectures and seminars, often on the future of technology and the shape it will take for humans and society. He is also considered an expert in areas such as the future of computing, environmental change, climate change, new energy breakthroughs and revolutionary approaches to agriculture, among other issues. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

ASEE Prism, Feb 2008

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