Page 29 - issue 28 2020

Opinion 29
two have remained cousins. “ with a situation in which our son, who issued instructions to have me taken

>> From Page 28 Over 20 Years ago, I was confronted Shortly after my courtesy call, Prof. Lipo

through my own observation, was more
care of. I was given an office and a
The distancing of Science
inclined towards Motor Mechanics than
Visitor Programme. I have made at least
from Engineering was
4 Academic Visits to the US and have
to Academics found that he had taken
indeed unfortunate but the
our broken car all by himself.
you become as busy as they are; you
always get a Programme.
The separation of Art from down the gearbox and steering rack of learned that Americans make sure that
both Engineering was the Through an internet search we spotted WEMPEC is an innovation and research
a community college in Kentucky. He
most unfortunate. excelled in Mechanics getting 95% or hub that creates technology for efficient
more. Why not? His grandfather, my power electronic control electric motors.
father, was renowned mechanic in the During the time I was there corporates
was the most unfortunate. The general district. In no time he had mastered like GE, ABB, HITACHI were vying for
perception among engineers was that the course. Computers and Computer know-how to give them a leading edge.
Art was second best. At the University Networking were becoming the fields On one of the days, I was scheduled to
of Zimbabwe where I used to teach, it to be in and enrolled into that Associate meet Professor Robert (Bob) Lorenz, co-
was said that the premier professions Degree Programme. director of WEMPEC.
were Medicine, Engineering and Law. One day I was looking at his Transcript.
Medicine which it is claimed paid There was so much time spent on I was directed to the department of
most was the hardest to get into, English, Literature and History and Mechanical Engineering. “I am Professor
you needed 3As. Some of those that Customs of the Mountain people of of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
couldn’t make it into Medicine would Appalachia. When he graduated, we here.” He said. WEMPEC is an innovation
enroll into Engineering, if not, Science, were very happy and to our surprise, hub which registers scores of patents
if not Art; typically, Political Science he was made Commencement per year. Bob Lorenz, now late, was one
and Administration. To their surprise, (Graduation) Speaker. Where did he get of the most prolific inventors. “Right
the engineers, found that the these the English and Confidence from? now, I am working on a system to control
“Poly-Admins” became their bosses induction motors without sensors.My
who selected them for positions in the I now know, American Universities make invention is based on examining the
industry and determining their salaries sure that the graduate is “whole”. My patterns and signatures which result
and conditions of service. Secondary School studies were at the from their operating currents.I am
local school run by Canadian, American Professor of Mechanical and Electrical
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and British Missionaries. We studied Engineering, but in all my inventions,
Rolls Royce, many years ago realized the Math, Science, Latin, and English I start from the Mathematics and
that to be in control, you need to own and English Literature. I liked Latin and Physics.” This conversation which I had
and control your own enterprise. In Literature a lot and can still recite some with this illustrious Professor reminded
the case of Thomas Edison, Charles of the poems. me to go back to the past, even my own
Rolls and Henry Royce, they made sure past as a student and young engineer.
that their products would bear their My English Teacher even thought I
names. Perhaps they remembered the should pursue English, before Science. My visit to the University of Wisconsin-
misfortunes of Napoleon. For all his Now back to America. My second visit Madison ended in good spirits, almost
exploits and fame, there is not a single to the US was as Visiting Scholar at literally. I was invited to join the full
street in Paris named after him. We see the University of Wisconsin-Madison complement of WEMPEC researchers
here that the whole, free and exploring (an Ivy League University) Wisconsin at the University pub. It was also an
mind of ages and decades has been split Electric Machines & Power Electronics experience. Draft Beer was placed in
into pieces, often competing pieces. To Consortium (WEMPEC) in 1996/1997. a very big jug, from which everybody
see that the battle is not completely gulped. The jug would go round and
lost, let us go to America. My host Professor Thomas Lipo is round, getting replenished in the way.
an illustrious, researcher and a very So, these Americans were Africans too!
Coming to America affable man. He is has authority of the The Bad Replacing the Good and the
electrical machines and their control. Dangers of Overspecialization

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