Engineer, historian, author Petroski to deliver commencement address at S&T

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On May 3, 2011

Dr. Henry Petroski, a civil engineer, historian and author from Duke University, will deliver the commencement address during spring graduation ceremonies at Missouri University of Science and Technology May 6-7. Approximately 672 undergraduates and 383 graduate students are expected to receive degrees.


A ceremony for graduate candidates will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 6, in the Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building, 10th Street and Bishop Avenue, Rolla. A ceremony for undergraduates will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, in the multi-purpose building.

Petroski is the Aleksandar S. Vesic Professor of Civil Engineering and a professor of history at Duke University. A prolific author, Petroski has written broadly on the topics of design, success and failure, and the history of engineering and technology. His most recent book, The Essential Engineer: Why Science Alone Will Not Solve Our Global Problems, argues that engineers play a crucial role in the success of many of the world’s greatest achievements.

In addition to The Essential Engineer, published in 2010, Petroski has written a dozen other books. They include To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design, Design Paradigms: Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering and The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts – From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers – Came to Be as They Are.

He also has written general-interest articles and essays for magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal. He also is a regular columnist for American Scientist and ASEE Prism, which is published by the American Society for Engineering Education.

People with sight, hearing and mobility impairments who are planning to attend commencement should call 573-341-6314 as soon as possible for the university to provide reasonable accommodations.

More information is available online.

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On May 3, 2011. Posted in Events, Top Headlines