Group photo by stairs
Group photo in room
Chairs photo
100-year celebration

100 Year Celebration

Celebrating the Legacy of more than 100 years of Agricultural Engineering at Washington State University

History book chronicles 130‑year evolution of agricultural engineering at WSU

WSU News

As Washington agriculture changed over the last century, so too did teaching and research in agricultural engineering at Washington State University.

That evolution is chronicled in detail in a recently published, 218-page history, “Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering at Washington State University: More than 100 Years Committed to Building a Better and More Sustainable Agriculture (pdf).”

Written by current and retired faculty and present staff from the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, the book reaches from the university’s 1892 origins to the present, highlighting the forces that shaped the department as well as its growing team and changing faces.

“The Department goes beyond a single life,” wrote BSE chair Manuel Garcia-Perez. “It is a huge social enterprise in which several generations have invested their lives, their dreams, and their humanity. We are a big family with a long and distinguished history well worth documenting.”

BSE History Book (pdf)

YouTube Video of BSE History

Interview of Distinguished Alum, Dr. Norman Scott

Celebration Agenda (pdf)

On 5-6 August 2022, our Department of Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) celebrated its legacy of more than 100 years of agricultural engineering at Washington State University.

The main activities during this celebration included the release of History Book (Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering at Washington State University: More than 100 years Committed to Building a Better and More Sustainable Agriculture.

Authors: Dr. L. G. James, Dr. D. C. Davis, Dr. R. P. Cavalieri, Dr. C. O. Stockle, Dr. J. Tang, Dr. M. Garcia-Perez), discussions with former chairs, celebrating retirements of Drs. Ralph Cavalier and Claudio Stockle, student interactions during poster presentations, and recognition of our distinguished alumni, Dr. Norm Scott.

We celebrated this legacy with former and current staff members, faculties, chairs, students, and alumni.

BSE History Slide Show