Understanding the past can help formulate solutions in the future.
This was one of the messages Cyrus Meher-Homji conveyed as he presented “The Origins of the Turbojet Revolution” for the fourth-annual Turbomachinery Distinguished Lecture at Texas A&M University last week.
Meher-Homji, an Engineering Fellow and Turbomachinery Technology Manager at Bechtel Corporation, spoke to a room of about 100 students and faculty about the advancements that have taken reciprocating engines from what was used on the Wright Flyer to the machines we use today.
“If you understand how things develop, technological challenges, what the early inventors had to go through, that culminated in a modern engine, that’s a valuable thing for students — as valuable as math and science and physics,” Meher-Homji said.
“I would hope that the main thing that they would take away is to realize how people interact with each other and the importance of interacting in teams in order to develop big projects, complex initiatives.”
Mechanical engineering graduate student Tyler Paschal said he enjoyed learning about the history of turbomachinery and was thankful for the professional perspective.
“Bringing in these incredibly intelligent people, it motivates you in the future to see where you could be in the future — maybe coming back to A&M and inspiring other students like us,” Paschal said.
Meher-Homji graduated with his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M in 1978. He also serves on the Turbomachinery Advisory Committee (TAC) — a group of academics and industry professionals who select the technical program for the annual Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia, which is hosted by the Turbomachinery Laboratory.
The Turbomachinery Distinguished Lecture Series was endowed in 2014 by the Turbo Lab on behalf of the TAC and allows the Department of Mechanical Engineering to invite prominent turbomachinery experts to present on topics of interest and importance to Texas A&M students and faculty. Last year’s lecture was given by Duke University Mechanical Engineering professor Dr. Kenneth C. Hall.
If you understand how things develop, technological challenges, what the early inventors had to go through, that culminated in a modern engine, that’s a valuable thing for students — as valuable as math and science and physics.
Cyrus Meher-Homji, Bechtel Engineering Fellow and Turbomachinery Technology Manager, Texas A&M Class of 1978