Three Swanson School faculty recognized at 2017 Carnegie Science Awards

PITTSBURGH (May 12, 2017) … Three faculty members of the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering were among those recognized at the Carnegie Science Center’s 2017 Carnegie Science Awards, sponsored by Eaton.

The program honors awardees from more than 20 categories, including Corporate Innovation, Emerging Female Scientist, Entrepreneur, Leadership in STEM Education, and others. According to the Science Center, “these individuals and companies have distinguished themselves by making unparalleled contributions to science and technology in various disciplines.” Carnegie Science Center established the Carnegie Science Awards program in 1997 to recognize and promote outstanding science and technology achievements in western Pennsylvania.

“There’s a common thread among our award winners this year: They’re all problem-solvers who are dreaming big dreams,” said Ann Metzger, the Henry Buhl, Jr. Co-Director of Carnegie Science Center. “They’re using critical thinking skills to solve real-world problems and to make a difference. Those are crucial skills for all 21st –century learners, and that’s why problem-solving skills are a hallmark of all our Science Center programming.”

Recipients from the Swanson School include:

Information Technology Award
Alex Jones, PhD
Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Director of the Computer Engineering Program
Dr. Jones is internationally known for his research in “green computing.” His research led to the creation of GreenChip, a tool that provides detailed estimates about manufacturing and operational-phase metrics, such as energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Innovation in Energy Award
Kevin Chen, PhD
The Paul E. Lego Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Dr. Chen is driving innovation with his research on fiber optical sensing technology. The innovations and technologies developed by Dr. Chen's team have critical applications to improve efficiency of energy production and safety of transportation infrastructures across all aspects of the energy industry.

Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Award
Paul Ohodnicki, PhD, and the Materials Science and Functional Materials Team, National Energy Technology Laboratory
University of Pittsburgh Team Members: Kevin Chen, PhD, Aidong Yan, Sheng Huang
The extreme environments of power generation systems and advanced manufacturing processes are too harsh for traditional sensors, limiting the ability to optimize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. This team demonstrated a cutting-edge sensor technology capable of measuring temperature and gas composition inside solid oxide fuel cell systems, holding promise for commercialization and job growth.

Honorable Mention - University/Post-Secondary Educator
Peyman Givi, PhD
Distinguished Professor and the James T. MacLeod Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Swanson School of Engineering
Co-Director of the PhD Program in Computational Modeling and Simulation
Director of the Laboratory for Computational Transport Phenomena

Known as a modern-day “Rocket Scientist,” Dr. Givi is widely recognized as the leader and a first ranked researcher in the field of high-performance computing for propulsion, combustion, rockets, and energetic fluids simulation. He is also highly regarded for his effective mentoring of students. He has made a remarkable impact in engineering & computing education by training the next generation of outstanding scholars. All of his former postgraduate students are now in highly visible positions in academia, government laboratories and private industry across the globe.

About Carnegie Science Center
Carnegie Science Center is dedicated to inspiring learning and curiosity by connecting science and technology with everyday life. By making science both relevant and fun, the Science Center’s goal is to increase science literacy in the region and motivate young people to seek careers in science and technology. One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Science Center is Pittsburgh’s premier science exploration destination, reaching more than 700,000 people annually through its hands-on exhibits, camps, classes, and off-site education programs.
About Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1895, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a collection of four distinctive museums dedicated to exploration through art and science: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. Annually, the museums reach more than 1.2 million people through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events.

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