Local Professor Bernie Van Wie Honored with Prestigious Lifetime Award in Chemical Engineering Education

Bernie Van Wie, a professor at the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, has received the 2024 Donald R. Woods Lectureship Award. This award, given by the Chemical Engineering Division of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), acknowledges Van Wie's contributions to chemical engineering education. He is set to give a lecture on his teaching innovations at the ASEE national meeting in Portland, Oregon, in June.

The Donald R. Woods award recognizes educators who have improved chemical engineering education with innovative teaching and mentoring. Van Wie has developed practical teaching tools that have influenced educational practices and motivated other educators to adopt new teaching methods.

Van Wie started creating hands-on learning modules in the early 1990s. These modules, which are low-cost and used in over 50 universities worldwide, help students understand fluid dynamics and heat transfer. This approach allows students to experiment and learn complex engineering concepts effectively.

These tools are easy to use in classrooms and are less expensive than traditional laboratory equipment. They promote active learning and teamwork, helping students apply theoretical knowledge and develop practical skills.

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