Mechanical Engineering Professor John Crepeau Receives Fulbright Scholar Award
Thursday, May 14
John C. Crepeau, professor and out-going chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Idaho, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture and conduct research at Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Crepeau will spend six months — September 2015 through March 2016 — in Ecuador teaching a course in fluid mechanics on the topic of turbulence, in Spanish. He will also serve as a visiting researcher on a team studying how additives change the properties of fluids to optimize engineering systems in order to make them more efficient. As part of the program Crepeau will have the opportunity to travel throughout Ecuador visiting other universities to discuss his teaching, research and the University of Idaho as a Fulbright ambassador.
“This is a unique opportunity for an engineer,” Crepeau said. “We tend to get focused in our discipline. But as an engineer it is very important to me to understand how different parts of the world go about solving problems. That’s a very exciting part of what I hope to learn from the experience.”
“We are very happy for John on his selection as a Fulbright Scholar,” said Larry Stauffer, dean of the College of Engineering. “I know John has a strong interest in the people and culture of South America and the passion he brings to his endeavors. He will be a great representative for the college and university to build relationships in Ecuador.”
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The program sends approximately 800 American scholars and professionals per year to approximately 130 countries where they lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given over 318,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, scientists and other professionals the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, please visit: http://eca.state.gov/fulbright.
“Receiving a Fulbright Award is an honor and a very notable accomplishment,” said Susie Bender, executive director of International Engagement and Programs. “John Crepeau will join the ranks of 25 faculty and staff at the University of Idaho who have received Fulbright Awards in the past.”
The UI International Programs Office promotes Fulbright Programs to faculty and staff, provides guidance, and maintains a database of all UI Fulbright recipients.
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.