Koski Lecture

KOSKI LECTURE

Robert E. Koski Medal Lecture

Tuesday, November 1, 8:30 AM

Full Cycle: Some thoughts on education of undergraduate and graduate students in the area of fluid power

Dr. Richard Burton

I was deciding what topic I should talk about in this session: should it be technical, an overview, something specific, etc. I was jotting down some ideas when I was interrupted by a graduate student who came to his regular scheduled meeting and we ended up in a two hour discussion on his research topic on fluid bulk modulus. After this particular session, I sat back and realized that I have gone full circle. In 1968, I started my Masters studies and the topic was fluid bulk modulus!! I entered the fluid power world with bulk modulus and will leave it this year with the same topic. Full circle!!!

So I thought about this and started asking myself what have I learned over this cycle and what contributions have I made. This led me to think about how I have handled my career from a teaching, research and administrative point of view. I have done things that work, and others that have not been so successful. Since one of my research areas was in based on “expert systems”,  and since these areas represent my passion. I thought what better way try to add to the fluid power community by discussing some things that others might consider as they develop their own careers.  And so that is what my objective is.This presentation will be an interactive one in that I will draw on the audience for their experiences and ideas for discussions on some of the topics which I will discuss.  Some of these topics will include: team work, contributions, the importance of graduate students, teaching undergraduate students and how technology has changed the way we pursue education, and other topics if time permits. Full cycle!!

Biography

Richard Burton has been a member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan since 1974 and a Professor since 1985. He received his BE in Engineering Physics from the U of S in 1968, his M.Sc, in 1971 and Ph.D. in 1974. He served as Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Programs, (1999-2004). He has taught over 26 undergraduate and graduate courses in his career, and has supervised/co-supervised over 75 M.Sc. and PhD students. He has presented and published over 200 papers in national and international peer reviewed conferences and Journals. He has been very active in the International Fluid Power community as a member of the executive of the FPST division of ASME since 1995 (Chair in 1997), Scientific Advisory Board Member for the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power, and a Board Member and convenor for FPNI. He has served as session chair for numerous international conferences, reviewer for many journals, external examiner (opponent) for many PhD students internationally, and active in award committees of several international organizations. He has been an ME Accreditation Visitor (CEAB) for five Canadian Universities. In 2012, he will retire and spend time with his children and grandchildren.