Dr. Chung King Law stands as a preeminent figure in combustion science and a distinguished Robert H. Goddard Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University. Born in China on August 31, 1947, he completed his academic foundation with a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Alberta in 1968, followed by an M.A.Sc. in Aerospace Studies from the University of Toronto in 1970. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Physics from the University of California San Diego in 1973 under the supervision of Forman A. Williams, completing his dissertation on droplet combustion. His distinguished career trajectory includes influential positions at General Motors Research Laboratories, Princeton University, Northwestern University, and the University of California Davis before his return to Princeton in 1988 where he was appointed Robert H. Goddard Professor in 1995.
Professor Law has established himself as a foundational thinker in combustion science through his theoretical and experimental contributions to heterogeneous combustion, flame dynamics, and fuel oxidation mechanisms. His pioneering work on the 'Combustion Law limit' has become a cornerstone concept in the field, while his research on droplet dynamics and burning, laminar flame speed, and stretched flames has provided critical insights for advancing combustion technologies. His development of chemical mechanism reduction approaches has enabled more efficient computational modeling of complex combustion processes, significantly impacting both academic research and industrial applications. The technological and social implications of his research extend across propulsion systems, energy conversion technologies, and environmental protection initiatives with profound relevance for sustainable energy solutions.
Beyond his research achievements, Professor Law has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the scientific community through his presidency of the Combustion Institute from 2000 to 2004 and his current direction of the Combustion Energy Frontier Research Center of the US Department of Energy. His election to both the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2010 stands as testament to his profound influence on the field. Today, he continues to advance the frontiers of combustion science with a focus on addressing challenges related to future transportation fuels and sustainable energy solutions. His mentorship of generations of combustion scientists and engineers has cemented his legacy as a transformative figure whose work continues to shape the direction of energy research worldwide.
