NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2008 – Alexander Slocum, Ph.D., a resident of Bow, N.H., and the Pappalardo professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, will be honored by ASME. He is being recognized for breakthrough machinery designs and technologies that have extended the limits of machine-tools and systems, and for educating a generation of design engineers through landmark books and innovative teaching. He will receive the Society’s Machine Design Award.
The award, established in 1958, recognizes eminent achievement or distinguished service in the field of machine design. It will be presented to Dr. Slocum during the Design Engineering Technical Conferences being held in Philadelphia, Sept. 10 through 13.
Slocum began his teaching career at MIT as an assistant professor in 1986. He is currently the Pappalardo professor of mechanical engineering; and a MacVicar Faculty Fellow (1999), a 10-year appointment in recognition of his dedication to teaching.
Combining passion and creativity with insightful technical analysis, Slocum has educated a generation of design engineers in both academia and industry. Courses taught at MIT include the world-famous 2.007, Design and Manufacturing, which culminates in a remote controlled robot competition that is frequently televised. His book titled Precision Machine Design (Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1992) is an advanced design text as well as a standard reference for those who work in the field.
Slocum also directs MIT’s Precision Engineering Research Group which focuses on developing fundamental precision principles to design and manufacture innovative precision machines and components. He has made numerous valuable technical contributions, demonstrated by more than 80 issued/pending patents and his involvement with nine products that have been awarded R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 awards.
His current interests focus on the development of precision machines and instruments, micro and nanotechnology, medical devices and sustainable energy generation systems. He also makes furniture at the MIT Hobby Shop, a carry-over of his years as an undergraduate and graduate student building things, from furniture to truck and tractor parts.
Slocum previously worked at the National Bureau of Standards (1983-85), now the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg, Md.), where he earned 12 superior service awards and a U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal.
An ASME Fellow, Slocum served as vice chair of the Design Education Committee (2005) and was chair of the Creativity in Design session at the 2007 and 2008 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences. He was honored with the Leonardo da Vinci Award in 2004.
Slocum earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at MIT in 1982, 1983 and 1985, respectively.
Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences. ASME develops codes and standards that enhance public safety, and provides lifelong learning and technical exchange opportunities benefiting the global engineering and technology community.
-#- | 
