Nadine Aubry made Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for Contributions To Engineering Field

Carnegie Mellon University’s Nadine Aubry has been awarded the distinction of fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Aubry, head of Carnegie Mellon’s Department of  Mechanical Engineering, was named a fellow for her outstanding contributions to the field of fluid dynamics, particularly turbulence and micro flows, and as an education leader in mechanical engineering.

“I am deeply honored by this recognition, and I plan to build on the innovative environment that comes with such an award,’’ said Aubry.  “The mechanical engineering profession is changing, and this new award will help me carry on Carnegie Mellon’s leadership position when it comes to state-of-the-art education, interdisciplinary research and globalization. ‘’

This year, Aubry joins the ranks of more than 400 members who have been honored for their scientifically and socially distinguished efforts to advance science and its many complex applications. New fellows will be presented with an official certificate and gold and blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin during the AAAS annual meeting Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008 in Boston, Mass. “Nadine is an excellent  researcher and leader, and a wonderful role model as the college seeks to entice more women and minorities into the science and engineering fields,’’ said Pradeep K. Khosla, dean of Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering.  “The mechanical engineering department is growing and doing even greater work with Nadine’s leadership, and this latest award reflects her outstanding vision.’’

Aubry’s interdisciplinary research and close partnerships with industry have landed several other impressive accolades, including the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Young Investigator Award and her election as a fellow to both the American Physical Society (APS) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). She is also chair of the U.S. National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. This National Research Council (NRC) committee serves as a national forum for defining major issues in mechanics research, technology and education, and represents the U.S. internationally in scientific matters related to the field of mechanics. She earned a B.S. degree in 1984 from the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble, France, and an M.S. degree from the Scientific and Medical University also in Grenoble. In 1987, she received her Ph.D. from Cornell University.

Nadine Aubry appointed Chair of National Research Council Committee

Nadine Aubry, Professor and Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University and appointed by the Chair of the National Research Council (NRC) as Chair of the U.S. National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (USNC/TAM), started her two-year term as of November 1, 2006. The USNC/TAM represents the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and NRC as the official U.S. member to the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM), a scientific union member of the International Council for Science (ICSU). The IUTAM was formed in 1946 to create a link among scientists working in solid and fluid mechanics and related sciences, and USNC/TAM was organized in 1948 to represent the U.S. interests in this area, both nationally and internationally. It operates under the auspices of the Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO) of the Policy and Global Affairs Division of the NRC.

There are fifteen U.S. national societies that are members of USNC/TAM, each being represented on the Committee by a representative. These are the American Academy of Mechanics (AAM), Acoustical Society of America (ASA), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), American Mathematical Society (AMS), American Physical Society (APS), American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM), Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), Society of Engineering Science (SES), Society of Rheology (SOR), and the U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM). On the national level, USNC/TAM is the focal point for the U.S. engineering, scientific, and applied mathematics communities that have common interests in the broad field of mechanics. It also “serves as the national forum for defining major issues in mechanics research, technology and education; suggesting strategies in areas of mutual concern; and stimulating appropriate action.”

“It is a great honor for me to have been appointed to this post and I am pleased to have the opportunity to help defining the next opportunities and challenges for the mechanics community at large,” says Aubry. “Mechanics is a crucial field for the competitiveness of the U.S. in science and engineering, having made - and continuing to make - an impact on practically all fields of science and engineering including nanotechnology, materials science, manufacturing, bioengineering and medicine, energy and environmental engineering, and homeland security. Its breadth can be understood by the large number of the Committee’s member societies. It is crucial for USNC/TAM to continue promoting the field within the United States and internationally, encouraging collaborations across disciplines and countries, as well as helping to define emerging mechanics related issues in research and education.” Activities of USNC/TAM include strongly participating to the organization of the International Congress on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ICTAM) held every four years and to the selection of IUTAM symposia, organizing the National Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics also held every four years, publishing a series of review articles on research directions in mechanics, fostering special workshops and seminars within the National Congress or independently, communicating with the U.S. Mechanics Community and holding the Committee’s annual meetings.