Ferdinand Beer

Background

Beer was born in Binic, France in 1915.

Education

From the University of Geneva in Switzerland, he earned a mathematics license in 1935 and a Doctor of Science degree in 1937.

Career

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. He received a Masters of Science degree from the Sorbonne and conducted post-graduate work at Brown University. 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 taught as part of the school"s collaborative arts/engineering program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Career at Lehigh University In 1947, he arrived at Lehigh University, where he taught for 37 years. 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-insurance. 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." He also authored numerous articles published in technical journals. Awards and research.

Achievements

• In 1974, the American Society for Engineering Education (American Society for Engineering Education) 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, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Chemical Corps of the United States. Army, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Civil Defense Administration. Beer was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and the American Association of University Professors (American Association of University Professors). He was also a member of the American Society for Engineering Education and served as its mechanics division chairman and Middle Atlantic chapter chairman. Beer was married to Vivienne Certificated Master Beer who died before him. Together they had two daughters, Marguerite V. Schaeffer and Doctor Michelle Certificated Master Beer. He died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on April 30, 2003 at the age of 87. lieutenant was partly in his honor that the American Society for Engineering Education named the Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell Johnston Junior. Outstanding New Educator Awards.

Membership

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. Beer was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and the American Association of University Professors (American Association of University Professors). He was also a member of the American Society for Engineering Education and served as its mechanics division chairman and Middle Atlantic chapter chairman.