From CU-Boulder News Release May 13,1992
Klaus Timmerhaus Named Hazel Barnes Prize Winner
Klaus Timmerhaus, professor of chemical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been named the first recipient of the Hazel Barnes Prize established last fall by Chancellor James Corbridge.
The prize carries at $20,000 cash award, believed to be the largest single award for CU faculty funded by the university. Corbridge said he established the prize as a means of “recognizing that enriching interrelationship between teaching and research.” The yearly prize will be awarded to “that great teacher who also has made a significant contribution to the discovery of knowledge,” he said.
Timmerhaus, who has won several teaching awards in his 39 years at CU-Boulder, also has received national recognition for achievements in his research field of cryogenic engineering.
“I believe we have set an impressive precedent in selecting Klaus as the first recipient of the Hazel Barnes Prize,” Corbridge said. “His distinguished record speaks to the special goal of a research university in melding scholarship and teaching.”
Timmerhaus holds three degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois. He joined the CU faculty in 1953 as an assistant professor and became a full professor in 1961. He also has served as associate dean of engineering, director of the Engineering Research Center, acting chairman of aerospace engineering and chairman of chemical engineering.
Among his teaching honors are: President’s Teaching Scholar (1989), Charles A. Hutchinson Teaching Award of the College of Engineering (1989), Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Professor Award in engineering (1980), and George Westinghouse Award of the American Society for Engineering Education for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching (1968).
Timmerhaus is the author of the widely acclaimed textbook, “Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers,” which was the first text developed for an undergraduate course in chemical engineering plant design. Now in its fourth edition, the book has sold more than 100,000 copies and is widely used around the world.
Timmerhaus also has received many awards for his service to the university, including the engineering college’s Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award (1978), the Stearns Award for Outstanding Service (1981), the Max S. Peters Service Award (1987), and the President’s University Service Award (1988).
In research, Timmerhaus has been recognized with several national awards. He is one of only three faculty at CU to be named to the National Academy of Engineering. His research awards also include: the Samuel C. Collins Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cryogenic Technology (1967), the Alpha Chi Sigma Award of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for Chemical Engineering Research (1968), elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the W.T. Pentzer Award of the International Institute of Refrigeration (1989).
In addition to writing, editing and co-editing numerous volumes in his research field, Timmerhaus is the author or co-author of 130 technical papers and holds one patent on cryogenic technology.
Timmerhaus was selected for the Hazel Barnes Prize by a committee of CU-Boulder faculty members. The group reviewed 16 nominations, which “were from several departments across the campus and included many highly distinguished and qualified individuals,” Corbridge said.