News

November 17, 2005

Engineering Faculty Honored

UNLV would like to congratulate Dr. Robert Boehm, distinguished professor of mechanical engineering, who received the 2005 Rudolf W. Gunnerman Silver State Award for Excellence in Science and Technology in a private ceremony on Tuesday at the Desert Research Institute.

Established in 2000 by Reno area industrialist and inventor Dr. Rudolf Gunnerman, the award, which includes a minted medal and $25,000 prize, recognizes scientific and technological achievements that are based on work conducted primarily within the state of Nevada.

Boehm was selected for making great strides in education and research related to renewable energy, particularly in the area of solar energy. He has accomplished this through an extremely active research program at UNLV with industrial partners, outreach to a variety of constituencies and organizing of an educational program. In the early 90s, Boehm was a member of the federally appointed Solar Enterprise Zonean effort to examine the potential of solar energy application in southern Nevada. In 1994, he initiated the Center for Energy Research at UNLV. Through Boehm's leadership, the center has seen monumental growth in number, size and significance. In the last five years, the center has received research funding totaling nearly $8 million.

In addition to the center, his promotion of renewable energy research has resulted in the creation of other research buildings at UNLV, including the solar test facility and the Desert Southwest Building, both used for energy conservation studies. Under Boehm's direction, the Center for Energy Research also embarked on hydrogen studies, resulting in the creation of a hydrogen-electric hybrid bus. Throughout his distinguished career at UNLV, numerous graduate and undergraduate students have benefited from working with Boehm, who is a firm believer in the involvement of students in all of his research. Many of his students are now on faculties at a variety of universities worldwide and are employed by well-known international businesses.

A member of the UNLV faculty since1990, Boehm came to Nevada to fill the newly created position of chair of the new Mechanical Engineering Department. He is the author or co-author of more than 400 publications in the technical press, including 10 books as author or editor. He has received many accolades for his work, including the membership title of Fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Gunnerman, a Nevada industrialist and inventor, established the annual award in 2000 to recognize scientific achievement and technology development in Nevada and to showcase the state as a strong supporter in key areas of innovation. The Gunnerman Award program is administered by the Desert Research Institute, which solicits candidates statewide. Nominees must demonstrate the highest quality of research, work accomplishment and commitment to the field and be involved with work that will have a direct and favorable impact on the greater population.