Odorless, Colorless, but Important to Calculate, Nonetheless: University of Idaho graduate thesis earns prestigious award
Wednesday, February 13 2008
Feb. 13, 2008 MOSCOW, Idaho – How many burning peanuts does it take to boil a cup of water? Seeking the answer to that high school chemistry experiment – to estimate the energy content of peanuts – intrigued Jacob Leachman. The Lewiston, Idaho, native followed his passion for the sciences through high school, through undergraduate and graduate studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Idaho, and now as a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “It's hard to find a reason not to be passionate about mechanical engineering,” said Leachman. “Look around any room and try to find something that would be the same without any engineers in the world. Engineers make possible the life we live.” He earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Idaho in spring 2007. In early March, he will accept the Western Association of Graduate Schools’ Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award for his University of Idaho thesis titled “Fundamental Equations of State for Parahydrogen, Normal Hydrogen and Orthohydrogen.” Leachman was a Richard B. Stewart Scholar at the University of Idaho; Stewart, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, did experimental work with hydrogen while he was at the National Bureau of Standards, now called the National Institute of Standards and Technology. While the thesis title may be intimidating, Leachman’s research has some down-to-earth applications. “Pretend you're in California, driving up to a new hydrogen fueling station,” Leachman begins, noting that at last count, California had about 24 such fueling stations operating. “You start pumping hydrogen into your gas tank, an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. How do you know how much you've pumped in, and how do you know you are getting what you paid for? The equations of state we developed put numbers to hydrogen; gas liquid or both at any realistic pressure or temperature and are the most accurate to date. These numbers are used by scientists and engineers in calculations to determine, for instance, how much you pumped and if it's safe.” “Jacob’s work is exceptional,” said Margrit von Braun, dean of the University of Idaho’s College of Graduate Studies and a professor of chemical engineering and environmental science. “He developed new equation-of-state formulations that will form the basis for new computer programs to support the hydrogen economy. This is highly significant, considering the importance of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. The outcomes and accomplishments of his thesis are unusually substantial. His work has been incorporated as a new National Institute of Standards reference.” Leachman worked at the university’s Center for Applied Thermodynamic Studies on hydrogen thermophysical properties research under the guidance of Richard Jacobsen and Steve Penoncello. Jacobsen, formerly dean of the University of Idaho College of Engineering and now engineering dean at Idaho State University, was Leachman’s major professor. Penoncello, professor and former chair of mechanical engineering, served as his thesis adviser. “The hydrogen molecule is very simple in structure, but because of that simplicity, several forms of hydrogen can exist,” said Penoncello. “Jacob’s thesis has been one of the best that has come out of the Center for Applied Thermodynamic Studies at the University of Idaho. It is scientifically sound, the results are well-written, and it represents a significant contribution to the scientific and engineering communities.” Growing up in Lewiston, Leachman balanced his passion for athletics with his passion for academics. In fact, he entered the University of Idaho on a football scholarship until an injury sidelined him. “People seldom see the athletes with hard science or engineering majors because they are either busy training or doing homework,” he recalled. “It was everything I could do to balance grades with football and having a life. You come home from training completely exhausted with hours of homework to do. The combination prepared me for the mental and physical discipline that graduate studies require.” Leachman currently is pursuing a doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and hopes to bring his life full circle by becoming a university-level professor where he can inspire, teach and research. The WAGS thesis award he will receive “demonstrates that Idaho has first-class faculty with first-class research,” he said. The WAGS award, to be presented at the organization’s 50th annual meeting in Denver, Colo., includes a certificate of accomplishment and a $1,000 honorarium. More information is available online at www.wiche.edu/wags. The awards competition was among 85 institutions in Canada and the northwestern U.S. So how many peanuts did it take to boil a cup of water in the laboratory experiment back at Lewiston? Leachman found it took about six plump, shiny ones. Contact: Tania Thompson, University Communications, (208) 885-6567, taniat@uidaho.edu # # # About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu. TT-2/13/08-GRAD
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.