ASHRAE Insights

By Erich Binder, CTTC Distinguished Lecture Subcommittee Chair

The ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer Program, sponsored by the Chapter Technology Transfer Committee (CTTC), has been a resource since 1996 for chapters seeking speakers who are well respected in their field of expertise and who can provide high quality presentations.

Program topics can be technical or non-technical in nature.  Current topics include subjects such as sustainability, energy conservation, ASHRAE standards updates, ASHRAE design guides, chiller plant design, practical considerations for controlling noise from piping, negotiating skills, and indoor air quality problems in comfort and industrial applications.

Over the years many chapters have utilized the Distinguished Lecturer Program and the feedback has been wonderful, according to Monte Troutman, chair of the Chapter Technology Transfer Committee (CTTC).
 
Results have indicated that when a chapter hosts a Distinguished Lecturer, the meeting typically has higher than average attendance. “The goal of the committee is to provide a Distinguished Lecturer Program that includes high quality speakers and an array of current topics of interest,” he said.

CTTC accepts Distinguished Lecturer nomination two months prior to each Society meeting. Nominations must be received at ASHRAE Headquarters by Dec. 1 for CTTC review at the Society Winter Meeting, or May 1 for review at the Society Annual Meeting.

The nomination package should include:
• The completed Distinguished Lecturer Nomination form (available at  www.ashrae.org/cttc);
•  An ASHRAE biographical record or resume which includes past employment history and publications authored (papers, books, etc); and
•  An abstract (brief synopsis) of each of the candidate’s presentations.

Candidates are not required to be ASHRAE members, but must commit to participate in the program for at least two years and should be excellent public representatives of the principles of ethical and professional practice for which ASHRAE stands.

Technical committees and task forces are encouraged to nominate candidates who can provide topics specific to their interests. 

Nominations for topics such as business development, interviewing for projects, operating a small business, project management and other non-technical subjects are encouraged.
 
The committee is also looking for international candidates and speakers who can provide talks in Spanish and other languages for chapters located outside the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

For more information visit www.ashrae.org/cttc or contact Rosy Douglas, Chapter Technology Transfer Staff Liaison, at 678/539-1128 or rdouglas@ashrae.org.