4:45 – 6:15 pm: Technical Session: Thinking Like an Engineer
After 40 years lecturing to Mechanical Engineering students the presenter has evolved and reconsidered what his purpose should have been as an educator. It goes beyond transfer of information and mastery of a necessary set of tools. It also goes further than applying those tools in the art of problem solving. The presentation will highlight the nature of engineering thought processes, recognizing the role in problem solving, looking for alternatives, using creativity, thinking in a pragmatic manner, considering safety, and always asking questions. Societal problems exhibiting failure in thinking like engineers will be presented. These are to be examples and challenge for critical thinking on the part of engineering professionals while responsibly servicing society.
6:15 – 8:30 pm: Dinner Meeting: Differing Perspectives in Global Warming
A different approach to the usual formal presentation on these topics will be presented. It is the consequence of attempting to analyze the available data to demonstrate the reality of anthropogenic global warming. Unfortunately the analysis led to the conclusion that the only reality is in the uncertainties of these areas. A review of the data and predictions from climate change models will first provide evidence as to the culpability of CO2. Following that, through careful analysis of the data, consideration of solar and astronomical large scale effects, and the nature of computer modeling, the second perspective will raise serious doubts on the culpability of CO2 as a greenhouse gas threatening the welfare or even survival of future generations.
About the Presenter
Victor Goldschmidt is an Emeritus Purdue Professor of Mechanical Engineering with more than 45 years of lecturing experience, Fellow and Past Director-at-Large of ASHRAE, and honorary member of the IIR (International Institute of Refrigeration), ACAIRE (Colombia Association of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, AAF (Argentine Association of Cold), and ASURVAC (Uruguay Association of Refrigeration, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Heating). His industrial experience includes having been an Application Engineer, and a Development Engineer with Honeywell, as well as serving as team leader with numerous research contracts with the HVAC&R industry. He also led research teams through grants with the DOD, NSF, and other governmental bodies. With more than 200 publications, he served as mentor to both graduate and undergraduate students. Currently he serves on ASHRAE’s Development Committee. Victor is a facilitator to leadership training, problem solving and strategic planning sessions, a County Planning Commissioner and formerly a Trustee in the Leelanau Township Board in the Lower Northwest Michigan.