Jim Widmann
Host of The Idaho State of Discovery PodcastJim Widmann is the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at Idaho State University. Before serving as Dean, he was a professor and chair of mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. His interests include mechanical design processes, fluid power control, and engineering education, where he has published numerous papers on student learning and enhancing student success. He is professionally active in the American Society for Engineering Education, where he served as Chair of the Design in Engineering Education Division. For his work, Widmann has earned multiple honors, including the Best Paper and Best Presentation awards from the American Society for Engineering Education, the Cal Poly Learn by Doing Awards for both Teaching and Research, the Society of Women Engineers Most Supportive Professor Award, and was named a Fulbright Scholar at Kathmandu University in Nepal.
In addition to his academic work, he has eight years of industry experience in the automotive, aerospace, and machine tool industries. He received his bachelor’s degree from Michigan Technological University and his master's and doctorate from Stanford University, all in mechanical engineering.
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In the inaugural episode of The Idaho State of Discovery, Jim Widmann explores the rocks, landscapes, resources, and real-world questions that make Idaho a remarkable place to study geoscience. Guests Dr. Ryan Anderson and graduate student Caden Anderson share how fieldwork, research, and discovery shape the next generation of geologists.
