Gilbert Masters : An Oral History
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Gilbert Masters, an emeritus professor (teaching) of civil and environmental engineering, reflects on his time at Stanford as a graduate student in electrical engineering in the 1960s and his career teaching and writing about environmental science and technologies. Masters speaks about his path to teaching environmental topics, including his dissatisfaction with corporate engineering work and living out of a van while auditing classes on the environment at Stanford. He recalls the environmental engineering courses he taught over the years, including the popular CE 170 course “Man and His Environment,” and he reflects on how the field has changed over time. Other topics covered include classified research and the sit-in at the Applied Electronics Laboratory; the benefits of being a “paren”-teaching professor; the importance of designing for energy efficiency and renewable energy resources; and working with Dean of Engineering Bill Kays on changes to the undergraduate engineering curriculum.
- Summary
- Growing up in Los Angeles • Father’s career as a photographer for Rexall Drug Company and mother’s work at Sears • Siblings • Early schooling; excelling at math and physics • Living at home while attending UCLA • Engineering curriculum at UCLA; course on measurements • Master’s degree • National Science Foundation Fellowship • Decision to use NSF funding to pursue a PhD at Stanford • Electrical Engineering at Stanford • Early artificial intelligence work with faculty advisor Bernie Widrow • Classified research in the Applied Electronics Laboratory on distinguishing incoming missiles from decoys • Graduate student life at Stanford in the 1960s • First job at Fairchild Research Labs • Work being done at Fairchild and workplace culture in the late 1960s; feeling “bored to tears” • Decision to leave industry for academia • First teaching job at Santa Clara University • Concerns about teaching engineering material that might be applied to the war effort • Living in a Volkswagen bus and travelling around the country • Hippie lifestyle • Developing an interest in environmental issues • Sitting in on Stanford courses about the environment • Meeting future wife, Mary, in a Stanford summer course • Wedding in Foothill Park and initial strain with in-laws • Returning to Santa Clara University • Stanford environmental engineering • Memories of Rolf Eliassen and Perry McCarty • Eliassen’s CE 170 course, “Man and His Environment” • Sons Bill and Jake • Love of kayaking and scuba diving • Palau as favorite place; introduction to Palau through summer job with Page Communication Engineers • Memories of the sit-in at the Applied Electronics Lab • Teaching a course on Designs for Alternate Lifestyles in Stanford Workshop on Political and Social Issues (SWOPSI) with Jim Leckie, Harry Whitehouse, and Lily Young • Writing Other Homes and Garbage • Publishing book through the Sierra Club • Teaching environmental courses at Santa Clara • Writing Introduction to Environmental Science and Technology textbook • Subsequent editions of textbook • Taking over the teaching CE 170 • Advantages of “paren teaching” professorship • Popularity of CE 170 • Changes to the course over time • Chairing School of Engineering’s undergraduate council and revisiting introductory engineering courses • Other courses taught, including course on energy-efficient buildings • Approach to teaching and lecturing • Memorable students: J. B. Straubel, Dele Adeyemo • Shift of focus in field toward climate issues; importance of energy efficiency and renewable resources • Creation of Pacific Sun company • Renewable energy lab on campus and research done in the lab • Renewable sources of electricity generation • Responsibilities as the School of Engineering’s associate dean of student affairs • Working with Dean of Engineering Bill Kays • Faculty Senate • Progression of environmental studies as a field • Shift of environmental research from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to the School of Earth • Tau Beta Pi teaching award • Thoughts on the balance of research and teaching in the university • Pride in the students he has taught and being a good teacher • Benefits of professor (teaching) position emphasized
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Extent | 1 text file |
| Place | Stanford (Calif.) |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
| Date created | February 28, 2020 |
| Language | English |
| Digital origin | born digital |
Creators/Contributors
| Interviewee | Masters, Gilbert M. | |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | Masters, Gilbert M. | |
| Interviewer | Gamlen, Tod | |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
Subjects
| Subject | Masters, Gilbert M. |
|---|---|
| Subject | Stanford University. Civil & Environmental Engineering Department |
| Subject | College teaching |
| Subject | Environmental sciences > Study and teaching |
| Genre | Interview |
Bibliographic information
| Biographical Profile | Gil Masters, the Map Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Energy, has focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy systems as essential keys to slowing global warming, enhancing energy security, and improving conditions in underserved, rural communities. Although officially retired in 2002, he has continued to teach CEE 176A: Energy-Efficient Buildings, and CEE 176B: Electric Power: Renewables and Efficiency. Masters is the author or co-author of ten books, including Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science (3rd edition, 2008), Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems, (2nd edition, 2013), and Energy for Sustainability: Technology, Policy and Planning (2nd edition, 2018). Professor Masters has been the recipient of a number of teaching awards at Stanford, including the university’s Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Tau Beta Pi teaching award from the School of Engineering. Over the years, more than 10,000 students have enrolled in his courses. He served as the School of Engineering Associate Dean for Student Affairs from 1982-1986, and he was the Interim Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1992-1993. |
|---|---|
| Audio |
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| Finding Aid | |
| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/xg965wn8758 |
| Location | SC0932 |
| Repository | Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Collection
Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program interviews, 1999-2022
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