May 2005, Issue #40

Cool Engineer of the Month

IGO ECO
Ecology, energy and progress drive this engineer

Imagination is an important skill for engineers who create the things don't exist today. David's exercises his creativity through mural painting when he's not at work — this one for his daughter's nursery.

Dr. David Pointer considers himself more than an engineer — he is a pro-nuclear activist. He believes the next generation of nuclear energy systems will offer solutions to some of our most pressing problems. "I was attracted to nuclear engineering because this field uses the smallest building blocks of matter and the most basic laws of physics to accomplish really big things like treating cancer, exploring distant planets, or making sure we have abundant supplies of affordable energy."

As a Research Engineer in the Nuclear Engineering Division of Argonne National Laboratory, David helps lay the groundwork for those big accomplishments. He contributes to many different kinds of projects.

David described how nuclear engineering offers variety because nearly every process that occurs in nature can be described by just a few mathematical equations which are based on a few basic laws of science. "I think finding ways to use very powerful computers to solve these equations so that we can predict the behavior of a new technology and even improve its design before its built is a really neat job."

Computers allow engineers to simulate conditions and measure how substances might respond to pressure, heat, or other changes. Software provides a virtual laboratory where experiments can be conducted and data collected. David uses some of the world's fastest computers to improve designs for nuclear power plants. He is also exploring how to improve the fuel efficiency of heavy vehicles such as tractor-trailer trucks. "My parents joke that when I was little they had to be sure that no screwdriver was ever left within my reach." David explained. "Now I want to know not only how things work, but also how I can make them work better."

David travels frequently to present papers on his research and educate new audiences. Here he is in Washington DC at the Einstein Statue.

David attended the University of Tennessee where he got degrees in Nuclear Engineering. David loves to share his enthusiasm for the benefits of technology. He often makes time to speak at schools and neighborhood meetings. He also writes about his experience and knowledge as an engineer for a quarterly newsletter called Go-Nuke in addition to other websites and listserves.

To meet like-minded engineers, David participates in many professional associations like the American Nuclear Society and the North American-Young Generation Nuclear (NA-YGN). David's zeal and dedication to science and engineering have put in him in important communication roles with the professional organizations where he volunteers his time.