Awards & Honors
Kimberly-Clark Distinguished Lectureship Award 2023.
International International Society for Porous Media. · 2023 Porous materials are usually thought of as amorphous mixtures of two or more things, solids, fluids, and voids. The research field started that way, and so did my own activity in it. Along the way, I was drawn to the part of nature (the physics) that was missing from the amorphous view: the structure, flow, configuration, drawing (design), purpose, and evolution. The lecture is pictorial. It begins with defining the terms, because words have meaning: vascular, design, evolution, and prediction (theory). Next, the lecture shows that vascular (tree shaped) architectures flow more easily than parallel channels with only one length scale (the wall to wall spacing). Transport across channels is facilitated when the spacing is such that the channel flow length matches the entrance (developing) length of the flow. The tendency to evolve with freedom toward flow configurations that provide greater access is universal in nature, bio, and non-bio. This tendency is the Constructal Law, which empowers us to predict the evolution toward flow access, miniaturization, high density of heat transfer, and the scaling up (or down) of an existing design. Multiscale vasculatures occur naturally because they flow more easily than their counterparts with a few length scales. The future of evolutionary design everywhere points toward vascular, hierarchical flow architectures that will continue to morph with freedom and directionality. More about this awardHonorary Member
International Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) · December 2020Prize in Basic and Engineering Sciences
International Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) · December 2020 "for his work in one of the most basic fields of engineering, thermodynamics, for an extraordinary record of creative work, including the unification of thermodynamics and heat transfer; the conceptual development of design as a science that unites all fields; and development of the “constructal law”.The paper “Discipline in Thermodynamics” made the cover of the journal “Energies”
International Energies, MDPI · June 2020Knight of the French Order of Academic Palms, Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques
International French Republic · February 2020Humboldt Research Award
International Humboldt Foundation · June 2019 “For pioneering contributions in modern thermodynamics. He discovered the Constructal Law—a law of physics that predicts natural design and its evolution in biology, geophysics, climate change, technology, social organization, evolutionary design and development, wealth and sustainability.”Corresponding Member
International Academy of Engineering of Mexico · September 2018Benjamin Franklin Medal
International The Franklin Institute · April 19, 2018 “For his pioneering interdisciplinary contributions in thermodynamics and convection heat transfer that have improved the performance of engineering systems, and for constructal theory, which predicts natural design and its evolution in engineering, scientific, and social systems.” More about this awardCorresponding Member
International Mexican Academy of Sciences · September 2017Ralph Coats Roe Medal
National American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 2017 For permanent contributions to the public appreciation of the pivotal role of engineering in an advanced society through outstanding accomplishments as an engineering scientist and educator, renowned communicator and prolific writerDoctor of Engineering honoris causa
International University of Pretoria, South Africa · 2015 Graduation speaker.Visiting Chair Professor of Engineering Science under the Distinguished Chair Professor Scheme
International Hong Kong Polytechnic University · 2015 2015-presentDocteur Honoris Causa
International Institut National des Sciences Appliquées, Lyon, France · 2014Member
International Academy of Europe · 2013Honorary Member
National American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 2011Honorary Member
International Romanian Academy · 2011Doctor Honoris Causa
International University of Rome I, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy · 2009Professor Catedrático Convidado
International University of Évora, Portugal · 2009 2009-presentFluid Science Research Award
International Tohoku University, Japan · 2008Donald Q. Kern
International American Institute of Chemical Engineers · 2008 For seminal contributions to heat exchange design based on two original methods: entropy generation minimization, and constructal theory.Extraordinary Professor
International University of Pretoria, South Africa · 2007 2007-presentJames P. Hartnett Memorial Award
International International Center of Heat and Mass Transfer · 2007Doctor Honoris Causa
International Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria · 2006Luikov Medal
International International Center of Heat and Mass Transfer · 2006Honorary Member
International Academy of Technical Sciences of Romania · 2004Doctor Honoris Causa
International Technical University of Gabrovo, Bulgaria · 2004Edward F. Obert Award
International American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 2004Doctor Honoris Causa
International University of Évora, Portugal · 2003 For outstanding contributions to the progress of knowledge in the field of engineering, namely for the development of Constructal Theory, which provides a groundbreaking method that enlightens the generation of shape and structure in both engineering and nature.Doctor of Science Honoris Causa
International ETH - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, Switzerland · 2003 For outstanding originality, challenges to conventional thinking, impact on modern thermal sciences, and for his pivotal role as promoter of constructal theory, entropy generation minimization, and European scientific culture.Distinguished Lecturer
International American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 2002 For 2002-2005.Highly Cited Researcher
National Thomson Reuters · 2001Honorary Member
International Academy of Sciences of Moldova · 2001Docteur Honoris Causa
International Université Henri Poincaré, Nancy, France · 2001 Leader scientifique mondial des domaines Energétique-Thermique et Méchanique des fluides. Promoteur de l'Analyse Entropique et de la Théorie Constructale. Profondément attaché aux valeurs humanistes et à la culture européenne.Doctor Honoris Causa
International Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil · 2001Charles Russ Richards Memorial Award
National American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 2001 For outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering by an engineer twenty years or more following graduation.Doctor Honoris Causa
International Technical University of Moldova, Chisinau, Moldova · 2001Honorary Doctor of Science
International Azerbaijan Technical University, Baku, Azerbaijan · 2000Ralph Coats Roe Award
National American Society of Engineering Education · 2000Robert Henry Thurston Lecture
International American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 1999 Shape and Structure in Engineering and Nature: Constructal Theory.Doctor Honoris Causa
International Technical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest, Romania · 1999Doctor Honoris Causa
International Odessa State Academy of Refrigeration, Odessa, Ukraine · 1999Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (honoris causa)
International University of Durban-Westville, South Africa · 1999 Graduation speakerMax Jakob Memorial Award
International American Institute of Chemical Engineers & American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 1999 For highly imaginative and inspiring ideas in the thermal science and design of engineering and nature.Doctor Honoris Causa
International Gh. Asachi Technical University, Iasi, Romania · 1998TEPCO Endowed Chair
International Keio University, Yokohama, Japan · 1998The Legacy of Adrian Bejan: Three Generations of Brazilian Scientists
International Pontificial Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil · 1997 International SymposiumDoctor Honoris Causa
International Ovidius University, Constanta, Romania · 1997Worcester Reed Warner Medal
International American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 1996 For originality, challenges to orthodoxy, and impact on thermodynamics and heat transfer, which were made through his first three books: Entropy Generation through Heat and Fluid Flow (1982), Convection Heat Transfer (1984), and Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (1988).Honorary Citizen
International City of Galati, Romania · 1996Doctor Honoris Causa
International University of the Lower Danube, Galati, Romania · 1995Heat Transfer Memorial Award
International American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 1994 For significant and often unconventional contributions to heat transfer, notably in natural convection, thermodynamic aspects of heat transfer, convection in porous media, thermal tribology, solar energy conversion, cryogenics, and transition to turbulence; and for bringing modern research results and methods into heat transfer education.Doctor Honoris Causa
International Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Romania · 1992James Harry Potter Gold Medal
International American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 1990 For original and unorthodox ideas, journal articles, textbooks, graphics and lectures demonstrating that engineering thermodynamics is an active and often controversial field of research, and for encouraging others to invest their creativity in the future of the field.J.A. Jones Chair
National Duke University · 1989Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award
International American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 1988 For demonstrated outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering within ten to twenty years following graduation.Fellow
International American Society of Mechanical Engineers · 1987Croft Professorship
National University of Colorado, Boulder · 1981Miller Fellow
International University of California, Berkeley · 1976Honors Course
Department Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 1970 1970-1972De Florez Award for Ingenuity in Engineering Design
Department Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 1969In the News
Published December 1, 2020
December Books: Adrian Bejan: "Freedom and Evolution: Hierarchy in Nature, Society and Science"
Published March 2, 2016
Why do stars and planets come in different sizes? Adrian Bejan claims our universe follows a 'law of hierarchy' that stops it tearing apart
Published February 18, 2016
Adrian Bejan: Why rolling stones and elephants live longer and travel farther