Auburn engineering professor honored with prestigious award for noise control, acoustics

Article body

Malcolm Crocker, Auburn University professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, has been awarded the 2017 Per Bruel Gold Medal for Noise Control and Acoustics from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME.

Established in 1987, the award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of noise control and acoustics, including practical applications benefiting the mechanical engineering discipline. It is named in honor of Per Bruel, a Danish academic and inventor who was a pioneer in acoustics and acoustic instrumentation.

Crocker was selected to receive the medal “for promoting international collaboration, education and the dissemination of knowledge in noise control and acoustics through the formation of professional organizations, the establishment of journals and congress series and the creation of reference volumes for practitioners,” according to ASME.

“Throughout his career, Malcolm has distinguished himself as one of the world’s foremost experts in acoustics and vibration,” said Jeff Suhling, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “This award is a crowning achievement for Malcolm and signifies just how important his contributions have been to the discipline and to Auburn University.”

A native of England, Crocker earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Southampton and his doctorate from the University of Liverpool. He joined Auburn University in 1983 as professor and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering following a 14-year career on the faculty of Purdue University. Crocker served as department head until 1990, when he was named distinguished university professor. He retired from Auburn in 2011.

During his career, Crocker served as editor of leading journals and was editor-in-chief of three books. In addition to his many awards, Crocker has also received three honorary doctorates.

The medal will be presented at the 2017 ASME Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in Tampa, Florida, this November. Crocker will be the 25th person nationally to receive the award.

Related Media

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.