CONTRIBUTIONS OF MELCHER,JAMES,R. TO ENGINEERING-EDUCATION

This paper reviews the teaching and research career of the late Professor James R. Melcher. It describes his approach to the teaching of electric and magnetic fields bolstered by the lecture demonstrations he had developed. He is considered the founder of the modern day field of electrohydrodynamics. His undergraduate courses, reinforced by educational films which are briefly described, gave students an introduction into the field. His graduate courses and research extended more broadly into fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and physical chemistry. He spoke and wrote on the need for a national energy policy and was concerned about the effect of military expenditures on US commercial competitiveness.