[7/1/2008]    Parkinson wins SAE speaker award

University Park, Pa. — Matt Parkinson, assistant professor of engineering design and mechanical engineering, was recently awarded the Lloyd L. Withrow Distinguished Speaker award at the 2008 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Digital Human Modeling Conference and Exhibition in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The award, established in 1984, recognizes individuals who are three-time or more recipients of the SAE Oral Presentation Award. It honors the late Lloyd L. Withrow, former head of General Motors Research Laboratories Fuels and Lubricants, and a noted speaker at many SAE meetings.

Parkinson, who came to Penn State in 2005, conducts research in the area of designing for human variability. This research integrates concepts from ergonomics, biomechanics, and human factors with design tools like optimization and robust design.

At the conference, Parkinson presented his research on "Extrapolation of Anthropometric Measures to New Populations" and "Optimal Product Sizing through Digital Human Models." He also organized a technical session on "Hand Modeling and Performance."

In 2007, Parkinson received the Excellence in Oral Presentation Award, sponsored by the SAE
Digital Human Modeling for Design and Engineering Conference and Exhibition, and the Ford Motor Company Best Paper Award, sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Design Automation Committee.

The Lloyd L. Withrow Distinguished Speaker award is funded by the SAE Foundation. In addition to supporting the awards, recognition and scholarship programs of SAE International, the SAE Foundation develops and funds programs and incentives that foster student interest in engineering, scientific and technical education.