The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will recognize Chancellor Henry T. Yang in April for his pioneering aerospace research.

Yang, who is also a professor of mechanical engineering, has been selected to receive the AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Award for 2008. The distinction is awarded to an individual who has been responsible for “recent outstanding technical or scientific contributions in aerospace structures, structural dynamics, or materials.”

According to an AIAA announcement, Yang is being honored for his “pioneering work in shell finite elements, transonic flutter, structural dynamics, and computational materials processing” as well as his “sustained contributions to outstanding research, education, and service.”

The award, consisting of a medal, certificate of citation, and rosette pin, will be presented to Yang during an April 9 conference in Schaumburg, Ill.

“Aerospace research has been my life-long passion,” said Yang, who is a Fellow of the AIAA. “I am honored to receive this recognition, especially when it comes from my peers working in the same areas of research.”

Over the course of his career, Yang has guided the work of 52 Ph.D. recipients and has authored or co-authored more than 160 articles for scientific journals, 42 since becoming UCSB’s chancellor in 1994. He also has served as principal or co-principal investigator for 30 sponsored-research grants. His book, “Finite Element Structural Analysis,” has been adopted for use in courses at more than 40 universities.

At UCSB, Yang teaches one or two undergraduate courses in aerospace structures each year and guides the research of several Ph.D. students. In 2007 he received an honorary distinguished teaching award from UCSB’s Academic Senate.

Before coming to UCSB, Yang was the Neil A. Armstrong Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, where he also served as head of the schools of aeronautics and astronautics for five years and as dean of engineering for 10 years.

He has received other recognitions of his research, teaching, and public service, including 12 outstanding undergraduate teaching awards, four honorary doctorates, and the Benjamin Garver Lamme gold medal, the highest honor bestowed by the American Society for Engineering Education.

Yang is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Currently, he serves on the Association of American Universities’ executive committee, the Millennium Technology Prize selection committee, and the Kavli Foundation board. He is also the chairman of the board for the Thirty Meter Telescope project.