|
"Always explore the
interrelationships among science, technology and society...
[and] most importantly, never forget
your social and cultural roots."
Professor Norris Stubbs
Professor Norris Stubbs
lectures in civil engineering at Texas A&M University in the
United States. He has spent 30 years studying the internal
forces and stresses within structures using non-destructive
damage evaluation. He holds the patent to a well-known and
widely used technique called the Damage Index Method, which can
be used to estimate damage to structures and their contents in
the event of a hurricane or other disaster. Professor
Stubbs was on the Texas A&M University team attached to the
Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center that examined the World
Trade Center after the 2001 attacks.
Norris Stubbs was born
on 8th November, 1948 in Nassau, The Bahamas. He attended
the Western Junior School, Western Senior School and the
Government High School in Nassau, The Bahamas. As a child,
he mastered several brass instruments, including the French and
baritone horn, which he played in local concert bands and
orchestras. While at school, he became a sprinter and
represented The Bahamas in the Pan American Games in 1967 and
the 1968 Olympics. He received his Bachelor of Arts (BA)
in Physics from Grinnell College, Iowa, USA in 1971 before he
obtained his Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master of Science
(MSc) in Civil Engineering, and Doctor of Engineering Science (EngScD)
in Engineering Mechanics at Columbia University, USA.
He started his career
as an assistant professor in civil engineering and engineering
mechanics at Columbia University in 1976. He moved up the
ranks to Professor and mentored graduate students in the field
of engineering mechanics. At least six of his former
doctoral students became professors at other institutions around
the world.
 In
the past two decades, Professor Stubbs has been actively
involved in understanding how natural hazards such as extreme
wind and water affect large buildings and structures like
bridges. He ensures, through the application of quality
management techniques, that structures can withstand these
hazards, and his patented Damage Index Method has been applied
to the Bay Bridge (San Francisco), the Vincent Thomas Bridge
(Los Angeles), the Space Shuttle fleet, the Dang Sang Bridge
(Korea), and the King Storm Water Channel Bridge (California).
In recent years, his work has focused on the
development of algorithms to locate non-destructive damage in
large structures. Professor Stubbs has made a significant
contribution to the field of civil engineering, and his findings
have resulted in over 250 publications. In 2005, he was
presented with the Golden Coral Award by his homeland in
recognition for his work in physics and engineering.
Professor Norris Stubbs advises children to
"familiarise yourself with the great figures of science and
technology... [and] learn from their experiences."
|
