Ramesh K. Agarwal, PhD, the William Palm Professor of Engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis, has been showered with awards this year in recognition of both his advocacy of green aviation technology and of his commitment to engineering educaton.
In May, he received the 2010 Lindbergh Award from the St. Louis chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineers (AIAA) for his “distinguished contribution in applying aerospace technology to improving the quality of human life.”
Agarwal has applied his expertise in computational fluid dynamics and flow control to the development of greener aviation technology that reduces drag and improves the efficiency of airplanes, trucks, wind turbines and air-conditioning systems. He is frequently invited to speak about sustainable, or green, aviation.
AIAA, with more than 31,000 members, is the world’s largest professional society devoted to the progress of engineering and science in aviation, space and defense.
Earlier this summer, Agarwal also attended the annual meeting of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), where he was inducted as an ASEE Fellow in recognition of his sustained contributions to engineering education. He presented the distinguished lecture at the meeting, choosing sustainable aviation as his topic.
ASEE’s more than 12,000 members are committed to furthering educaton in engineering and engineering technology. The members include deans, department heads, faculty, students and government and industry representatives from all disciplines of engineering.
Other awards Agarwal has received in the past year include:
- In November 2009, he received the AIAA/SAE William Littlewood Memorial Lecture Award. This award provides for an annual lecture dealing with a broad phase of civil air transportation considered of current interest and major importance. Agarwal presented the lecture on “Sustainable (Green) Aviation: Challenges and Opportunities.” Since 1973, Agarwal is the second person from academia to receive this award; in the past it has been generally been given to senior aerospace executives.
- In April, Agarwal received the McFarland Award, given by the Society of Automative engineers. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the SAE engineering meetings board and the development and dissemination of information through technical meetings, conferences, and professional development programs.
- In May, he received the Big Fish Award from the Society of Graduate Engineering Students at Washington University. The award recognizes an engineering professor who is a “great mentor, teacher, and guide for graduate students.”
- In June, Agarwal won the AIAA/ASEE John Leland Atwood Award, given in recognition of lasting and significant contributions to aerospace engineering education.