By Nicole Matsen
BYU Professor L. Douglas Smoot will receive the Department of Energy”s prestigious Homer H. Lowry award in honor of his achievements in fossil energy science and technology.
“Dr. Smoot has championed the use of computational fluid dynamics to understand better the complex chemistry that occurs when fossil fuels burn,” said Spencer Abraham, Secretary of Energy. “In short, Americans are breathing cleaner air today due in large part to the brilliance of Dr. Smoot”s computer modeling throughout the fossil fuel industry.”
Established in 1985, the Lowry Award is the highest honor from the Department of Energy and has not had a recipient since 1995.
Drew Malcomb, from the Department of Energy Office of Public Affairs, said that the Lowry Award is intended to be an annual award but is only presented when appropriate and to a candidate who has made outstanding contributions in the field.
“In our minds he was the top person we knew, and we have both been in the field for 20 years,” said Thomas H. Fletcher, a professor in chemical engineering, who along with Larry L. Baxter, nominated their colleague, Smoot, for the award last May. “We both felt like he had a good chance.”
Once Smoot”s nomination package was submitted, said Fred Glaser of the Department of Energy”s Office of Fossil energy, it went through the formal procedure consisting of an initial selection process by a screening panel composed of experts in the field.
Then the Department of Energy Awards Committee senior staff did an overview of procedures and the nominee before handing over the final recommended recipient to Secretary Abraham for finalization.
“Since it is a national award and very competitive I thought it not likely that I would win,” said Smoot, who received news of his receiving the Lowry Award about three weeks ago. “I was surprised, certainly honored given the status of the award.”
Smoot earned both a Chemistry and Chemical Engineering degree at BYU and earned his master”s and doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington.
He has been at BYU since 1967 and served as Dean of Engineering and Technology from 1970-1977. He has published or presented over 200 technical articles and has received international praise by consulting with over 60 companies and agencies in energy, combustion and propulsion.
The Lowry Award will be presented to Smoot by Secretary Abraham at an awards ceremony on October 9 in Washington D.C.
“I am certainly looking forward to it, to be there with my family and have the chance to respond and show my appreciation for receiving such an award,” said Smoot.
Though Smoot plans on continuing his work by consulting and writing, he is retiring this year, but will leave behind a legacy of brilliance and admiration in the College of Engineering and Technology here at BYU.
