12 QUESTIONS FOR DAVID W. PERSHING
David Pershing is probably best known on campus for his administrative role as senior vice president for academic affairs. But, as a Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Fuels Engineering, and 1997 recipient of the University’s Rosenblatt Prize for Excellence, Pershing is also known in the science and engineering field for his work with the formulation and control of pollutant emissions from fossil fuel combustion and the incineration of solid waste materials—in other words, fires and explosions! He graciously agreed to be the subject of this week’s “12 Questions for…”
What book should every person read and why?
Hot, Flat and Crowded, by Tom Friedman. I have just returned from Dubai and anyone who doesn’t think the world is rapidly changing isn’t paying attention. Our U of U faculty are actually teaching on the ground in Abu Dhabi at Zayed University. And the U is now teaching students in all parts of the world through our online courses.
Name a favorite local place to eat.
This depends on the occasion and the time available. I like Hires for a quick burger, but for more serious dining my favorites are the New Yorker and Cucina Toscana in Salt Lake City, and Chez Betty in Park City.
What do you think is the most important thing today’s students need to know?
Here at the U, we are providing them with the opportunity to get an amazing education for the cost, but how much they really learn will depend, not on what we do in the classroom, but on their seeking out the unique opportunities like the Honors College, UROP, and Bennion Center internships.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
The ability to print money (legally). We have far too many underpaid and under rewarded staff members who have given their entire life to the University; faculty whose great ideas we cannot support; and students who are working far too many hours in order to pay the bills.
What do you like best about your job?
The people I work with—definitely. We have wonderful dedicated faculty and staff members as well as amazing students. I very much enjoy hiring and working with our vice presidents, deans and directors, and student leaders.
What reading material is on your bedside table?
Nothing. I now read books primarily on my iPhone because it is always with me. I also tend to fall into bed exhausted most evenings.
If our local politicians had to pass an exam before they were allowed to serve in public office, what question would you add to the test?
Do you understand what an amazing asset the University of Utah is for the state?
What’s the best advice you ever got?
When I was a young faculty candidate interviewing for a position at Cal Tech, the provost told me that, if I chose to go there, he did not care what I did as long as I did it extremely well and with passion. I still think that is good advice for young faculty.
How did you get interested in explosions?
The Department of Energy asked for proposals in “highly interdisciplinary areas where supercomputing could make a difference.” We chose fires and explosions because some of our strongest faculty had the necessary background—and we won.
You have five patents. What are they for?
Unfortunately nothing commercially valuable. My patents are on methods to reduce pollutant emissions from coal fired industrial boilers.
How did the Center for Simulation of Accidental Fires and Explosions get started at the U and what is the focus of its research?
I was the founding director of CSAFE but the faculty are the intellectual leaders. We have created computer simulations that predict what will happen if you get an explosive device (like a missile) accidentally caught up in a fire. Will it explode? How quickly?
What do you do to relax?
I go salmon fishing in Alaska with my daughter, Nicole, who is currently finishing medical school in the East. There is nothing quite like the thrill of catching (and releasing) a huge king salmon in the spectacular, rugged wilderness that is Alaska.
