Peter H. Given Lectureship in Coal Science
Dr. Peter H. Given contributed to many areas of coal science during his long and productive career. Early studies focused on the chemistry of phenols, surface and catalytic properties of carbon blacks, and electrochemistry of organic compounds. He became a major contributor to research on coal structure and direct liquefaction. He also had a strong interest in the organic geochemistry of coals and related peats. Peter Hervey Given was born in 1918. He was educated at Oxford University, receiving a B.A., M.A., and D. Phil. in chemistry. He joined the British Coal Utilization Research Association in 1945 and served as the head of the organic chemistry section from 1950 to 1960.
In 1961 he joined the faculty of Penn State as Associate Professor of Fuel Technology. In the late 60's Fuel Technology became the Fuel Science Program of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering; he became the first program chair and served until 1969. In 1984, Dr. Given became the first non-American to receive the Henry H. Storch Award for outstanding research in fuel chemistry. He retired in 1985 with the rank of Professor Emeritus and returned to England. He died on April 2, 1988, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England.
G. Albert Shoemaker Lecture Series in Mineral Engineering
G. Albert Shoemaker, a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus, had an eminent career in the mineral industries. He was for many years a leader of the coal industry, serving as president of Pittsburgh Coal, and later as president of Consolidation Coal Company from 1960-1966. Among many civic and philanthropic activities, he served as a member of the University Board of Trustees from 1957 to 1978 and as board president from 1970-72. Al Shoemaker was a great supporter of students, staff, faculty and ethnic development.
This lecture series was established in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences in 1992. The Shoemaker Lectures in Mineral Engineering are endowed by Mercedes G. Shoemaker to honor the memory of her husband G. Albert Shoemaker, a Distinguished Alumnus of Penn State, former Penn State Trustee, and president of the University Board of Trustees from 1970 to 1972. Most of Mr. Shoemaker's career was spent in the coal industry, much of it with the Consolidation Coal Company in Pittsburgh. He served as president of Consol from 1960 to 1966.
The Shoemaker Lectures in Mineral Engineering have been established to bring outstanding leaders of energy and mineral resource industries to the Penn State University Park Campus to discuss with students and faculty issues of critical importance to the mineral industry. The series is administered by the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering. The inaugural Shoemaker Lecture was presented on April 3, 1992 by B. R. Brown, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Consolidation Coal Company.
Click here for details about the next G. Albert Shoemaker Lecture.
Upcoming Lectures
2008 G. Albert Shoemaker Lecture in Mineral Engineering
Friday, April 25, 2008
4:00 p.m.
22 Deike Building
Speaker:
President and Chief Executive Officer, CONSOL Energy Inc.