George W. Pearsall
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George W. Pearsall | |
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| Born | 1933 Brentwood, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 21, 2016 (aged 82) |
| Alma mater | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BEng), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Doctor of Science) |
George William Pearsall (1933 – February 21, 2016) was an American engineer, educator, and researcher in the field of material science and product safety.[1] He served as a faculty member and twice as Dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University.[1][2] His work helped shape engineering education and research, particularly in the areas of failure analysis and the integration of technology with the liberal arts.
Early life and education
Pearsall was born in 1933 and raised in Brentwood, New York, on Long Island.[1][2] He served in the United States Army during the Korean War before pursuing higher education.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[1] After a period working as a research engineer at Dow Chemical, he went on to complete a Doctor of Science degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1961.[1]
Academic career
After completing his doctorate, Pearsall served on the faculty at MIT for four years.[1]. He joined Duke University shortly thereafter, where he would remain for much of his academic career.[1] Pearsall’s research primarily focused on material failure analysis, especially in relation to product safety and design.[1]
At Duke, he served two terms as Dean of the Pratt School of Engineering and contributed to numerous interdisciplinary initiatives.[1] He played a key role in the establishment of the Triangle Universities Center for Advanced Studies Inc. (TUCASI), which facilitated the development of major research institutions in Research Triangle Park, including the National Humanities Center, the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.[1]
Pearsall also helped initiate Duke’s Program in Science, Technology, and Human Values and was the first director of an experimental initiative titled Technology and the Liberal Arts, which sought to integrate engineering education with the humanities.[1][2]
Awards and recognition
In 2001, Pearsall received the Triodyne Safety Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), recognizing his lifetime contributions to the field of safe design.[1]
Death
George W. Pearsall passed away on February 21, 2016, at the age of 82.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 "A Tribute to Dean George W. Pearsall". Duke Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Duke Flags Lowered: George Pearsall, former engineering dean and professor, dies at age 82 | Duke Today". today.duke.edu. 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
External links
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