A new wall display in Benedum Hall at the University of Pittsburgh highlights important figures and events in the history of electric power, with a focus on Pittsburgh’s contributions. The exhibit, located outside the Electric Power Systems Lab, was conceived by Brandon Grainger, an associate professor and Eaton Faculty Fellow in the Swanson School of Engineering.
“These figures on the wall are some of the giants in our field,” said Grainger. He noted that while students may learn about concepts such as Faraday’s Law or the Clarke Transformation in class, they often do not know about the individuals behind these names. Edith Clarke, for example, was recognized as the first female professor of electric engineering in the United States and made foundational discoveries for today’s electric power grid.
The display was developed in collaboration with Amy Kleebank and Chris Markle from Pitt’s Office of University Communications and Marketing. It features a timeline documenting significant milestones in electric power history. The region’s impact is emphasized through figures like George Westinghouse, a Pittsburgh industrialist who promoted alternating current technology—the system used to transmit electricity over long distances. Westinghouse also played a role in establishing Pitt’s electrical engineering program by recruiting its first department chair in 1893.
Grainger expressed hope that visitors to the display will reflect on their own potential contributions to electric power innovation. “I’ve always gotten a high off of just looking at these historical figures and seeing what they’ve done, how they overcome their challenges,” he said. “I think it just excites people.”
