What possessed a self-described “old and cowardly” chemistry professor to buy a Segway at age 73?

“It was such fun,” Burnaby Munson said of the two-wheeled, self-balancing, human transporter invented by technology whiz Dean Kamen.

It all started during spring break when Munson, UD’s C. Eugene Bennett Chair of Chemistry, visited retired associate math Prof. John Bergman near Houston. While they sat enjoying lunch near a park, they watched people glide along on rented scooter-like Segways.

When Munson made a return visit to Bergman early in the summer, they made a return visit to the park. This time, Munson took a ride.

“I was wary because I’m not very well-coordinated, and I’m old,’” Munson said, deeply accenting and stretching the “o-l-d.”

“I was a little concerned that maybe I was going to fall, but it was such fun. There was me in a coat, but not a tie—I should have had a tie—and a yellow helmet. I was the funniest-looking thing on wheels.”

After returning to Delaware, Munson said, he heard from Bergman. “John Bergman, who is in league with the devil, sent me an e-mail with the address of Segway of Delmarva,” he chuckled.
Munson visited the showroom and ended up plunking down $5,000 for a human transporter.

“If I had stopped to think about it, I wouldn’t have bought it,” he admitted. But, he said, he had two solid reasons for the purchase. First, he lives about a mile from campus. Second, he likes the way people react.
“It has created a nice amusement for so many other people,’” Munson said, adding that he gets thumbs up and smiles and questions. He’s still learning the etiquette and laws for the Segway and just recently got his up to its maximum of 12 mph.

Munson, a pioneer and former director of the UD Honors Program, has received numerous awards recognizing his contributions to his profession and the University, including the Medal of Distinction in 2002, the Francis Alison Award in 1992 and several teaching awards.