Lefebvre Award - ILASS

The Lefebvre Award recognises distinguished and sustained contributions to the field of atomization and sprays. Established in 2004 in memory of Professor Arthur H. Lefebvre, it is presented at the ICLASS conference.

Award Recipients

: Jiro Senda 2024 · ICLASS, Shanghai, China

: Cameron Tropea 2021 · ICLASS, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

: Rolf D. Reitz 2018 · ICLASS, Chicago, IL, USA

: Masataka Arai 2015 · ICLASS, Tainan, Taiwan

: William Bachalo 2012 · ICLASS, Heidelberg, Germany

: Franz Durst 2009 · ICLASS, Vail, USA

: Norman Chigier 2006 · ICLASS, Kyoto, Japan

Arthur H. Lefebvre

Professor Arthur Henry Lefebvre was one of the most eminent and highly regarded researchers in the ILASS community. He was a member of both ILASS-Americas and ILASS-Europe, serving as Chairman of ILASS-Europe and subsequently becoming its first Honorary Member.

He was widely recognised by the spray combustion community for his pioneering research on spray atomization and airblast fuel injector design, which underpinned major advances in gas turbine combustor technology, including the reduction of pollutant emissions, from the early 1970s onwards. His widely read and highly regarded book Atomization and Sprays established him as a leading authority in the field, alongside his many contributions as both an academic and an industrial consultant. During his distinguished career, he held senior academic positions at Cranfield and Purdue Universities and received numerous prestigious professional honours and awards.

In 2004, one year after his passing, ILASS-Europe established an award in his memory. The Lefebvre Award recognises scientists who have made distinguished, sustained and inspiring contributions to the field of atomization and sprays. The award is normally announced at the banquet of the ICLASS Conference and consists of a certificate and a gift presented by the Chairman of the Lefebvre Award Committee. The Award Committee, which includes representatives from each of the regional ILASS organisations, selects the recipient from among the nominations received.

Award Regulations

1. Committee composition

The Lefebvre Award Committee is formed of six members. Each regional ILASS appoints two members and it will communicate their names to the ILASS-Europe Committee before the ILASS Europe Meeting following the ICLASS Conference. The chairman of the Lefebvre Award Committee is chosen from the two ILASS-Europe members and he coordinates the work of the Lefebvre Award Committee.

2. Nomination of candidates

Each regional ILASS nominates at most two candidates. They should submit a written proposal for each of the names proposed to the Award Committee for their consideration and discussion.

3. Selection of Lefebvre Award recipient

The members of the Award Committee evaluate all the proposals against previously defined criteria and requirements. If appropriate they can ask for further information to assist them in the evaluation process. The Award Committee identifies the recipient of the Lefebvre Award on this basis.

4. Award

The Lefebvre Award is announced at the banquet of the ICLASS Conference and it consists of a certificate and a gift presented by the chairman of the Award Committee or by a person appointed by him.

5. Unexpected events

The chairman of ILASS-Europe will deal with unexpected events including the nomination of additional Award Committee members in case of resignation, death or nomination for the Award for one or more of the members of the Award Committee.

6. Changes to the regulations

The ILASS Europe Committee can change the Lefebvre Award regulations by a majority.

The Award Plaque

The plaque is engraved at the Laser Processing Laboratory of the Materials Science Institute of Aragón in Zaragoza, Spain. A Nd:YAG laser is used to bleach the surface of dark Calatorao limestone, a stone characteristic of the village of Calatorao near Zaragoza. According to local tradition, this stone was already quarried by the Romans.

The design was selected by the ILASS-Europe Committee from several proposals presented by Prof. Antonio Lozano, incorporating elements suggested by its members. The plaque combines traditional craftsmanship with laser processing: the stone is cut and prepared by hand before the design is laser engraved.