Georgia Institute of Technology Materials Science and Engineering

On Monday November 9, Emily A. Carter, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (EVCP) and Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, presented the 2020 Brumley D. Pritchett Lecture to a virtual audience of 120. Attendees included students and faculty from across campus, representatives from a number of different industries, as well as members of the Pritchett family. 

Carter’s presentation, Designing Materials for Sustainable Energy from First Principles, focused on insights into (photo)electrocatalysis that could someday create a virtuous cycle of artificial photosynthesis, exploiting energy from sunlight or other renewable sources, water, air, and carbon dioxide, together with optimally designed materials, to synthesize the fuels and chemicals needed to sustain future generations.

Brumley D. Pritchett, for whom the annual lecture series is named, received his B.S. from Georgia Tech in Textile Engineering in 1930, graduating with an award for superior achievement in his major.  While at GT, he was instrumental in the founding of the Phi Psi Textile Honors Fraternity and was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa.  After graduation, he worked briefly with Dundee Mills before assuming management duties at Eagle and Phoenix Mills in Columbus, GA.  He joined the Army in 1940 and served in the Pacific during World War II.  Upon leaving the Army with the ranking of Colonel, he returned to Eagle and Phoenix Mills as a superintendent.  Later, he joined Steel Heddle Manufacturing Company as a sales engineer and consultant, retiring in 1972.  He was elected to membership in the CoE's Hall of Fame in 2002.