ASME President, 1990-1991

Arthur E. Bergles, Ph.D., P.E. is dean of engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, N.Y.

Dr. Bergles served on the staff and faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1962 until 1969, including positions as associate professor of mechanical engineering, chairman of the Engineering Projects Laboratory, and associate director of the Heat Transfer Laboratory.

From 1970 until 1972, he was professor of mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  He moved to Iowa State University in 1972, serving as professor and chairman of mechanical engineering until 1983.  He continued as Anson Marston distinguished professor of engineering and professor-in-charge of the Heat Transfer Laboratory until 1986, when he moved to RPI.  At RPI he became the Clark and Crossan professor engineering and director of the Heat Transfer Laboratory, and then dean in September 1989.

Long active in ASME, he served as chairman of several Heat Transfer Division committees, as an editor of the Journal of Heat Transfer, and as chairman of the Division.  He was ASME vice president for professional development from 1981-1985 and a member of the board of governors from 1985-1989.

Dr. Bergles was elected a Fellow in 1979.  He received the 1979 Heat Transfer Memorial Award and a Dedicated Service Award in 1984.

Also active in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Dr. Bergles was the U.S. (AIChE) representative to the Assembly for International Heat Transfer Conferences and AIChE editor for the 7thy International Heat Transfer Conference proceedings.  He serves on editorial advisory boards of 11 international thermal science journals.

His research interests include heat transfer enhancement, two-phase flow and boiling heat transfer, heat recovery heat exchangers, and cooling of microelectronic equipment.

Dr. Bergles held several industrial positions and has been a consultant to numerous industrial organizations and governmental agencies.  He has chaired many panels and presented numerous short courses.  He has published 240 technical papers, 11 books, and 95 technical reports and has presented over 200 invited lectures in the U.S. and foreign countries.

In 1979-1980, Dr. Bergles was visiting professor at the Institute of Process Engineering of the University of Hanover, as a recipient of a U.S. senior scientist award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany.

He was named a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education in 1985 and received its 1987 Lamme Award.  He was the recipient of a Ralph R. Teetor Award of the Society of Automotive Engineers in 11987.  Recent recognitions include foreign membership in the Polish Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Fellowship Award of the International Centre for Heat and Mass Transfer.

Dr. Bergles received his S.B. and S.M. (1985) and Ph.D. (1962) from MIT.  He is a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts.