Inside…
Husband and Wife Dedicate Careers
to Environmental Research, Education
Drs. Ates and Jale Akyurtlu
The School of Engineering and Technology is committed to ensuring that higher educational opportunities in the engineering professions are available to African Americans as well as to informing the community of significant contributions made in the profession by African Americans. Furthermore, Hampton University houses the only engineering program in the Hampton Roads area.
Along with the many accolades the school receives, it is truly the professors who are the leading factors to the school's academic successes. Professors like Drs. Ates and Jale Akyurtlu exemplify what it means to prepare graduates for the professional world and advanced study.
The Akyurtlus, who taught together at Kentucky State University before coming to Hampton University, have been engaged in experimental and theoretical research on catalysis, reaction engineering, and reactor design over the last three decades. Their work concentrates on applications related to alternative energy production and prevention of air pollution at the source.
Their most recent activity in the area of biofuels is the proposal for a subcontract recently submitted to the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Labs (INL). If funded, as a part of a team they will be designing, building and operating a laboratory-scale setup to produce JP-8 for military use from biological resources (crop oil).
Q. When did you first start teaching at Hampton University?
A. Jale Akyurtlu - We started teaching at Hampton University in August 1986.
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. Jale Akyurtlu - We like reading, doing puzzles and knitting.
Q. Do you have any children? If so, how many?
A. Jale Akyurtlu - We have been married for 28 years and have two children.
Q. What is your favorite color?
A. Jale: Green. Ates: Red.
Q. What has been your favorite experience as a professor?
A. Jale Akyurtlu - Our favorite experience as a teacher has been establishing a research grant in 1987. As well as collaborating with NASA to create a NASA grant for students to conduct further research.
Q. What are your goals for the future?
A. Jale Akyurtlu -We want to continue to do research as well as educate and increase knowledge about the environment.
-Amanda Mobley