Abstract

After forty-two years practicing an academic profession, it is timely to look back at the many lessons learned and to look forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Success in academia must always be defined as the creation and transfer of knowledge, but the process in following the American model of higher education is fraught with dilemmas, riddles and the need for innovation. Shared governance, the economic under pinning of the enterprise, metrics of success, institutional and professional loyalties, the sociology of work, knowledge capture and exploitation for prosperity, changing learning environments and the continual need to expand learning content, all compete for our attention in carrying out this important work. Yet there remain grand challenges that demand our attention. How can we accelerate the rate of discovery and learning while sustaining quality in the results? How do we expand the learning process to life-long learning?  What role will the new media and technology play in discovery and learning, not just in entertainment? How will the accelerating rate of knowledge development transform what we can and should teach and learn?  

Review of my scholarly work and a few success stories will be used to illustrate one path to a career in academia. The assistant professorship followed by a decision to build a research organization within the university led to the development of the Center for Composite Materials (CCM) at the University of Delaware in the 1970’s. Now almost forty years later, the CCM continues as the nation’s most successful such enterprise. Leadership positions as Director, Dean, Provost and Academic Vice President led to the presidency of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an extraordinary experience in learning the lessons of leadership as the “face of the institution.” Returning “to the bench” after the twenty years in leadership positions provided challenges for re-engagement in the profession. The nanotechnology revolution, HUB technology, exploitation of composite materials in aerospace and the emerging need for light weighting the automobile have all provided opportunities for new intellectual growth and learning.   As we look ahead, it is clear that the future is pregnant with new opportunities. Both academic excellence and leadership will continue to be in great demand.

Biography

R. Byron Pipes was appointed John L. Bray Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Purdue University in 2004. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (1987) and the Royal Society of Engineering Sciences of Sweden (1995). He served as Goodyear Endowed Professor of Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron during 2001-04. He was Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the College of William and Mary during 1999-2001, where he pursued research at the NASA Langley Research Center in the field of carbon nanotechnology. He served as President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1993-98.   

Dr. Pipes was Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Delaware from 1991-93 and served as Dean of the College of Engineering and Director of the Center for Composite Materials during 1977-91 at the same institution.  He was appointed Robert L. Spencer Professor of Engineering in 1986 in recognition of his outstanding scholarship in the field of polymer composite materials ranging over the subject areas of advanced manufacturing science, durability, design and characterization.  He is the author of over one-hundred archival publications including four books and has served on the editorial boards of four journals in his field. 

Dr Pipes has been recognized for his leadership in creating partnerships for university research with the private sector, government and academia.  He served as one of the first six directors of National Engineering Research Centers of NSF.   Dr Pipes received his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and the MSE from Princeton University.  He is the recipient of the Gustus L. Larson Award of Pi Tau Sigma and the Chaire Francqui, Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award in Belgium.  He holds Fellow rank in ASC, ASME and SAMPE.  Dr. Pipes has served on a number of National Research Council panels as both member and chair and served two terms on the National Materials Advisory Board. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Delaware.