Stephen Lynch, associate professor of mechanical engineering, received the George Westinghouse Silver Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Credit: Kate Myers/Penn State
Stephen Lynch receives achievement award from international mechanical engineering society
June 23, 2023
By Tim Schley
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Stephen Lynch, associate professor of mechanical engineering, received the George Westinghouse Silver Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The award, named after the 29th ASME president, recognizes individuals under the age of 45 for “eminent achievement or distinguished service in the power field of mechanical engineering,” according to the ASME website.
“This is a significant honor and due in no small part to the outstanding efforts of the students in my research lab,” said Lynch, who was previously named an ASME fellow in 2020. “I also want to acknowledge the support of the world-class faculty and staff in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the wider College of Engineering, who are excellent mentors, colleagues and friends, enabling my lab to do great things.”
Lynch leads the Experimental and Computational Convection Laboratory, which examines how to improve gas turbine technology for power generation and propulsion applications. Through both experimental and computation studies of turbulence and convective heat transfer, he examines how temperature plays a role in gas turbine efficiency and how advancements like 3D printing can help enable more sustainable power generation and aviation.
“We face some significant challenges for not only my generation, but my children’s generation in ensuring sustainable, economically viable and stable power generation and aviation transportation,” he said. “I hope that my lab’s research to enable more power-dense and efficient power generation equipment such as gas turbine engines or heat exchangers can provide some pathways for us to overcome those challenges.”
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