Tribology Education: Present Status and Future Challenges

The ASME Research Committee on Tribology (RCT) has been concerned that some of today's engineering students may not be learning enough about the fundamentals of tribology. After considerable discussion of the topic by RCT membership, it was decided to commission a survey of engineering curricula in the United States to gather data on the present status of tribology education. The survey was followed by a panel discussion which evaluated the significance of the survey results and obtained further input from educators, researchers and practicing engineers representing a broad spectrum of views in different sectors of academia, industry and federal government. This panel session was held at the Joint ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in 1987. Included in the panel and the subsequent discussions were representatives from other countries; their input was important in incorporating the experience and the views on the tribology education. The panel consisted of the following distinguished tribologists: Professor E. E. Klaus, Pennsylvania State University; Professor W. O. Winer, Georgia Institute of Technology; Dr. N. P. Suh, National Science Foundation; A. O. Dehart, General Motors Research; T. A. Harris, MRC Bearings, K. J. Brown, Ontario Hydro; and Professor C. M. Taylor, the University of Leeds.