10:26 a.m., Oct. 15, 2009----James A. Spearot, a University of Delaware alumnus and director of the Chemical and Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory at the General Motors Research and Development Center, will deliver the Jack A. Gerster Memorial Lecture at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in Room 102 of Colburn Laboratory.

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The lecture is sponsored by UD's Department of Chemical Engineering.

Spearot will speak on the topic “Materials Challenges in Developing Fuel Cell/Hydrogen Propulsion Systems.” His presentation will focus on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells fueled by hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources .

The mission of the Chemical and Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory is to develop cost-effective environmental strategies and systems for General Motors' products and processes. Key research areas for the laboratory include fuel-cell and energy-storage systems, commercially viable emissions control technology, environmental systems for material processing, fuel and lubricant systems for advanced powertrains, life-cycle analysis and advanced analytical measurements.

In addition to his work at the laboratory, Spearot serves as chief scientist for GM's Public Policy Center, lead executive for research programs in Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States countries, and manager of GM's Hydrogen Storage Innovation Program.

Spearot is a native of Hartford, Conn. He received a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University in 1967, and a master's and doctorate, also in chemical engineering, from the University of Delaware, in 1970 and 1972, respectively.

Spearot began his GM career in 1972 as an assistant senior research engineer in the fuels and lubricants department. He held positions of increasing responsibility, including principal research engineer and section manager of surface and rheological studies that led to his appointments as department head of fuels and lubricants in 1992 and director of the Chemical and Environmental Sciences Laboratory in 1998.

He is a member of several organizations, including the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of Rheology, the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the American Society for Testing and Materials.

He is a former chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers Fuels and Lubricants Division and a former chairman of the Coordinating Research Council. He has served as chairman of the fuels working group of the U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) and is currently serving on the membership of the USCAR environmental and hydrogen technical leadership councils.

His professional honors include: an American Society for Testing and Materials Award for Excellence in 1990; the Arch T. Colwell Merit Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1987; and the Award for Research on Automotive Lubricants, also from the Society of Automotive Engineers, in 1987.

Recently, he was elected as a fellow member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the USCAR.