Shukla appointed Simon Ostrach Professor at URI

KINGSTON, R.I. -- July 19, 2000 -- Arun Shukla, distinguished professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Rhode Island, has been appointed to a five-year term as the first Simon Ostrach Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University. The appointment recognizes Shukla's outstanding record of achievement in research and teaching during his 19 years at URI.

A resident of Wakefield, Shukla is the director of the URI Dynamic Photomechanics Lab, which uses high-speed cameras to study fracture mechanics, composite materials and impact mechanics. His current research includes the study of ballistic performance on body armor, the development of lightweight concrete, and the mechanics of high-impact damage to granite and concrete.

"Professor Shukla is a proven leader in the field of mechanical engineering, and an excellent researcher who has brought nearly $2 million in research funding to URI," said Thomas Kim, dean of the URI College of Engineering. "We are proud that he has been selected for this prestigious professorship."

Shukla is the author of more than 175 technical papers and three books and is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society for Experimental Mechanics. He is the technical editor of the International Journal of Experimental Mechanics and the associate editor of Optics and Lasers in Engineering. He has been recognized by URI four times with awards for his teaching and academic excellence.

The Simon Ostrach Endowed Professorship is named for a 1944 graduate of URI who recently retired as director of the National Center for Microgravity Research on Fluids and Combustion at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Ostrach received the Distinguished Public Service Medal from NASA and was inducted into the URI Engineering Hall of Fame. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from URI in 1995.

"We are extremely grateful for Dr. Ostrach's generosity and support," noted Paul Witham, URI's associate vice president of development. "His endowed professorship is one of several designed to attract and retain top notch educators and scholars at the University."

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For Information: Todd McLeish 874-7892