First-Hand:History of an ASEE Fellow - Catherine Skokan
History of an ASEE Fellow
Catherine King Skokan
As of October, 2018
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
Birth date: October 21, 1948
Family
Father: John King (2nd generation Irish); Research Chemist for the US Air Force. Among his works were a patent for the additive to diesel fuel to get it from becoming a gel when cold at high altitudes and work on a drone that was used in the Gulf War to attack buildings when people were not present. (1922 – 1996)
Mother: Helene Adams King (perhaps part of the Sam Adams family – at least a family legend). Dietitian. She worked for ARA for many years in hospitals and nursing homes supervising the SW region. After her retirement, she went to Nicaragua to volunteer as a dietitian.
Education
January, 1970 – BS in Geophysical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines (I graduated in 3.5 years – why – to show those boys at a mostly boys school that I could)
December, 1971 – MSc in Geophysical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines (I was the first woman to receive a graduate degree there)
December, 1974 – PhD in Geophysical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines (First Woman PhD at Colorado School of Mines)
Employment
Although the list below summarizes my employment since graduation, the best thing about my employment right now is that I love what I do and I do lots after my retirement from my tenured and research positions. I work regularly with student in the music program. I travel with CSM students every spring break. And I lecture on cruise ships for the Road Scholar Program. It is an amazing job..they pay me to tell people about what I love in science and engineering…and I get to travel the world!
2017 – present Research Professor on assignment to the Music Program
2015 – present Professor Emerita, Division of Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
2011 – present – Road Scholar Program – Lecturer on Cruise Ships
2010 – 2015 Professor Emerita and Research Professor , Division of Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
2002, 2009, 2012,2013 - Semester at Sea
1991 to 2010 Associate Professor, Colorado School of Mines
1987-Fall 1991 Associate Professor and Assistant Department Head, Department of Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines.
1981- 1987 Assistant Professor, Department of Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines
1976 – 1981 – Instructor, Department of Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines
1974-1976 – US Geological Survey
Research and Scholarship
I began with research in geothermal exploration with use of electrical geophysical tools. My PhD study was a “Transient Electromagnetic Survey of the East Rift Zone, Kilauea Volcano”….that is where the lengthy 2018 eruption that destroyed so many homes occurred. It was active then and active now. Do not build a home there! I continued to work in geophysical studies of geothermal and volcanic regions and then moved gradually over to ground water studies. I was one of the original PI’s on the Humanitarian Engineering Program at CSM sponsored by the Hewlett Foundation and took many student groups over seas (Honduras, Senegal, Ghana) and domestically (Tribal communities in New Mexico and Alaska) to work on ground water project for humanitarian purposes. In the mid 1990’s I became concerned with the quality of mathematics and science teachers and started offering summer workshops in science and engineering. I began with physical science for elementary school teachers, and through a large number of grants, continued until my retirement in working with teachers of all grade levels. In my retirement, I have been working with a group, Funzeleo, that has teacher workshops in engineering and science in Tanzania and Zambia.
Philosophy of Engineering Education
Since I am a tactile learner, I feel strongly in problem-based learning, laboratory work, and especially in geophysics – field work. Lectures are a great way to impart a lot of information very quickly. However, for many learners, the lessons are as quickly forgotten. In my lecture periods at the university, I would present a concept and then assign a problem. I encouraged my students to work in groups to help each other solve the problem. We then would review the results and move on to another concept, problem, and review. My students discovered that they could not be passive in my classrooms, laboratories, or out in the field. Active learners are more likely to remember and apply concepts than passive ones. I have been fortunate to travel internationally with many student groups and love to share my joy of our world with them.
ASEE Activities
With my work in humanitarian engineering, multidisciplinary engineering, and K12 outreach, I became active in ASEE. I began in the Multidisciplinary Division and rose through the officer stages. I then became a PIC II chair for three years and remained on the board as the VP External Relations for two more years. My work with ASEE has been rewarding. I have met lots of wonderful people and continue to value this association.
Other Professional Activities
I am an active member of the Engineering and Environmental Geophysics Society and have served in many offices there, including President.
My other profession is music. I play violin professionally at church as well as with a few ensembles. One group plays historic music from Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Another group plays Early Baroque music…choral and instrumental.
