CEE professor Hassan Astaneh has been teaching at Berkeley since 1986. He has taught classes on the design of steel structures and advanced steel design engineering mechanics-static. He is an expert in the effects of disasters on steel structures and has testified before Congress on how the structural integrity of the World Trade Center reacted to the terrorist attack. Professor Astaneh collected data for his research in New York within a few days of the attack. He also teaches a popular freshman seminar on skyscrapers and the World Trade Center.

Professor Minute: Interview with CEE prof. Hassan Astaneh

What do you do to forget about engineering and/or work ?

I read a lot and I love movies. Poetry and history books are my favorites. I also used to do amateurish oil painting. On Sundays I try not to do anything related to engineering or even think about it! I’m not always successful, especially when the pressure mounts during the semester.

What is your personal recipe for success?

Hard work, trying to do whatever I am doing a little better and trying to help others. I don’t know if trying to help others helped me to succeed directly, but it always gives me such a positive feeling and more energy so I can do the first two (hard work and improving what I do) much better.

What can a student do to get through your hardest class?

Make sure to use my office hours as well as the T.A.’s office hours. I always remind my students that they have already paid for my time as well as for the T.A.’s office hours by paying taxes and tuition and fees. Why not use what you have paid for?

Why did you become a professor?

Before doing my graduate work I was doing structural design as well as construction for 10 years. After finishing my Ph.D. in Michigan, people who are very dear to me, including my wife and my doctoral advisors, expected me to become a professor, so I did. There is nothing like being a professor. No day is alike and there are no boring moments. Being a professor at Berkeley and interacting with such a bright group of students is such a satisfying life experience that I wouldn’t change it for anything.

If you would like us to feature your favorite professor, please email his or her name to editnews@coe.berkeley.edu.

College of Engineering Home Page

Send comments to editnews@coe.berkeley.edu   © 2003 UC Regents