Ferdinand Pierre Beer (August 8, 1915 – April 30, 2003) was a Frenchmechanical engineer and university professor. He spent most of his career as a member of the faculty at Lehigh University, where he served as the chairman of the mechanics and mechanical engineering departments. His most significant contribution was the co-authorship of several textbooks in the field of mechanics, which have been widely cited and utilized in engineering education.[1][2]
Beer was born in Binic, France in 1915.[1][3] He received a Masters of Science degree from the Sorbonne and conducted post-graduate work at Brown University. From the University of Geneva in Switzerland, he earned a mathematics license in 1935 and a Doctor of Science degree in 1937.[1] Beer served in the French Army during the Second World War before moving to the United States and took a job at Williams College. He remained there for four years, where he taught as part of the school's collaborative arts/engineering program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[4]
Career at Lehigh Universityedit
In 1947, he arrived at Lehigh University, where he taught for 37 years.[4] When a department of mechanics was formed in 1957, Beer was named its first chairman. In 1968, Beer became the chairman of the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics Department after the two separate fields were merged into one department. He served in that capacity until 1977. In 1970, Beer was named the chairman of the newly formed University Forum, which was composed of 125 students and faculty members with the goal of promoting discussion between the two bodies. Lehigh professor Fazil Erdogan said that, while "at other universities around the country, students were rioting and conducting sit-ins ... [Beer] gained the confidence of the students. He had a calming effect on students and, in this critical time, he offered a not inconsiderable service to Lehigh."[1]
Alongside University of Connecticut professor E. Russell Johnston, Jr., Beer co-wrote three bestselling engineering textbooks: Vector Mechanics for Engineers, Mechanics of Materials, and Mechanics for Engineers: Statics and Dynamics, which won the 1976 Printing Industries of America Graphic Arts Award. He also authored numerous articles published in technical journals.[1]
Beer was married to Vivienne C.M. Beer who died before him. Together they had two daughters, Marguerite V. Schaeffer and Dr. Michelle C.M. Beer.[1] He died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on April 30, 2003, at the age of 87.[1] It was partly in his honor that the ASEE named the Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell Johnston Jr. Outstanding New Educator Awards.[5]
Published worksedit
F.P. Beer, E.R. Johnston Jr., J.T. DeWolf, Mechanics of Materials, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1981, ISBN0-07-121060-1.
F.P. Beer, E.R. Johnston Jr., et al., Vector Mechanics for Engineers, New York: McGraw-Hill, ISBN0-07-293110-8.
F.P. Beer, E.R. Johnston Jr., et al., Mechanics for Engineers: Statics and Dynamics, New York: McGraw-Hill, ISBN0-07-004584-4.
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghiPfitzer, Kurt (2003-05-02). "In memoriam: Ferdinand P. Beer, professor". Lehigh University. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
^. Lehigh University. Archived from the original on 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
^Ferdinand Beer, E. Russel Johnston, Jr., and John T. DeWolf, Mechanics of Materials, 1981, p. iv, New York: McGraw Hill.
ferdinand, beer, ferdinand, pierre, beer, august, 1915, april, 2003, french, mechanical, engineer, university, professor, spent, most, career, member, faculty, lehigh, university, where, served, chairman, mechanics, mechanical, engineering, departments, most, . Ferdinand Pierre Beer August 8 1915 April 30 2003 was a French mechanical engineer and university professor He spent most of his career as a member of the faculty at Lehigh University where he served as the chairman of the mechanics and mechanical engineering departments His most significant contribution was the co authorship of several textbooks in the field of mechanics which have been widely cited and utilized in engineering education 1 2 Ferdinand P BeerBorn 1915 08 08 August 8 1915Binic FranceDiedApril 30 2003 2003 04 30 aged 87 Bethlehem PennsylvaniaNationalityFrenchEducationM S University of ParisSc D University of GenevaOccupationEngineerSpouseVivienne C M BeerChildrenMarguerite V Schaeffer Dr Michelle C M BeerEngineering careerDisciplineMechanicsInstitutionsLehigh University Williams College Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Career at Lehigh University 1 3 Awards and research 2 Published works 3 ReferencesBiography editEarly life edit Beer was born in Binic France in 1915 1 3 He received a Masters of Science degree from the Sorbonne and conducted post graduate work at Brown University From the University of Geneva in Switzerland he earned a mathematics license in 1935 and a Doctor of Science degree in 1937 1 Beer served in the French Army during the Second World War before moving to the United States and took a job at Williams College He remained there for four years where he taught as part of the school s collaborative arts engineering program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4 Career at Lehigh University edit In 1947 he arrived at Lehigh University where he taught for 37 years 4 When a department of mechanics was formed in 1957 Beer was named its first chairman In 1968 Beer became the chairman of the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics Department after the two separate fields were merged into one department He served in that capacity until 1977 In 1970 Beer was named the chairman of the newly formed University Forum which was composed of 125 students and faculty members with the goal of promoting discussion between the two bodies Lehigh professor Fazil Erdogan said that while at other universities around the country students were rioting and conducting sit ins Beer gained the confidence of the students He had a calming effect on students and in this critical time he offered a not inconsiderable service to Lehigh 1 Alongside University of Connecticut professor E Russell Johnston Jr Beer co wrote three bestselling engineering textbooks Vector Mechanics for Engineers Mechanics of Materials and Mechanics for Engineers Statics and Dynamics which won the 1976 Printing Industries of America Graphic Arts Award He also authored numerous articles published in technical journals 1 Awards and research edit In 1974 the American Society for Engineering Education ASEE Middle Atlantic chapter awarded him the Western Electric Fund Award for engineering education The Mechanics Division of the Science Society in 1980 awarded him its Distinguished Educator Award Beer s research studied the application of random loads to mechanical systems His work in this field included support by Boeing NASA the Chemical Corps of the U S Army the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Civil Defense Administration 1 Beer was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME and the American Association of University Professors AAUP He was also a member of the ASEE and served as its mechanics division chairman and Middle Atlantic chapter chairman 1 Beer was married to Vivienne C M Beer who died before him Together they had two daughters Marguerite V Schaeffer and Dr Michelle C M Beer 1 He died in Bethlehem Pennsylvania on April 30 2003 at the age of 87 1 It was partly in his honor that the ASEE named the Ferdinand P Beer and E Russell Johnston Jr Outstanding New Educator Awards 5 Published works editF P Beer E R Johnston Jr J T DeWolf Mechanics of Materials New York McGraw Hill 1981 ISBN 0 07 121060 1 F P Beer E R Johnston Jr et al Vector Mechanics for Engineers New York McGraw Hill ISBN 0 07 293110 8 F P Beer E R Johnston Jr et al Mechanics for Engineers Statics and Dynamics New York McGraw Hill ISBN 0 07 004584 4 References edit a b c d e f g h i Pfitzer Kurt 2003 05 02 In memoriam Ferdinand P Beer professor Lehigh University Retrieved 2019 05 18 Ferdinand P Beer Lehigh University Archived from the original on 2020 08 04 Retrieved 2019 05 18 Ferdinand Beer E Russel Johnston Jr and John T DeWolf Mechanics of Materials 1981 p iv New York McGraw Hill a b Vector Mechanics for Engineers Statics About the author Archived 2009 12 12 at the Wayback Machine McGraw Hill Professor Fisher receives ASEE s Beer and Johnston Award Archived 2012 02 22 at the Wayback Machine Stevens News Service Stevens Institute of Technology July 8 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ferdinand P Beer amp oldid 1217680836, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
