Professor Sengers Proposes, Serves on Joint ASME-AlChE Committee

A new Joint ASME-AIChE Committee on Thermophysical Properties has recently been formed at the suggestion of Affiliate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering Jan Sengers.

Dr. Sengers has been a member of the ASME Committee on Thermophysical Properties since 1976. A major task of this committee has been organizing the triannual Symposia on Thermophysical Properties in Boulder, Colorado. However, as Dr. Sengers noted, thermophysical properties are important not only in mechanical engineering, but also very much in chemical engineering, as well. For this reason, in 2000 he proposed that this committee be changed into a Joint ASME-AIChE Committee on Thermophysical Properties. This proposal received a very positive response, and a taskgroup was formed at the 2000 meeting, consisting of Dr. Richard T. Jacobsen and Dr. Sengers, to investigate the feasibility of establishing such a joint committee. Dr. Jacobsen is Vice President of Professional Practice of ASME and Chief Scientist for Strategic Planning & Technical Outreach of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, and acted as liaison to ASME. As a Fellow of both ASME and AIChE Dr. Sengers acted as liaison with AIChE.

The task group formed an ad-hoc Joint Committee, and the proposal was discussed at the annual meetings of ASME and AIChE in 2001 and 2002. The proposal for such a joint committee, including its Bylaws, are now formally approved by both ASME and AIChE.

The first meeting of the new Joint ASME-AIChE Committee on Thermophysical Properties will be held in Boulder, Colorado during the 15th Symposium on Thermophysical Properties in June 2003.

Published April 15, 2003