Dr. A. Ertas, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, received his masters and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.He had 12 years of industrial experience prior to pursuing graduate studies. Dr. A. Ertas has been the driving force behind the conception and the development of the transdisciplinary model for education and research. His pioneering efforts in transdisciplinary research and education have been recognized internationally by several awards of Society for Design and process Science (SDPS). Dr. Ertas established the George Kozmetsky Endowment (GKE) and The Academy for Transdisciplinary Learning and Advanced Studies (TheATLAS) as non-profit organizations that fund transdisciplinary research and educational activities. He has developed the Transdisciplinary Master of Engineering and Ph.D. Programs on Design, Process, and Systems in conjunction with The Raytheon Company in Dallas, Texas. This program has graduated over 100 students.

Dr. Ertas has written numerous technical papers and modules on transdisciplinary education. He is a Senior Research Fellow of the ICC Institute at the University of Texas Austin, a Fellow of ASME, and a Fellow of SDPS. He is the founder and was the first Co-Editor-in-Chief of Transdisciplinary Journal of Integrated Design & Process Science (JIDPS), founder of Integrated Design & Process Technology Conference (IDPT), Co-founder of ASME Engineering Systems and Design Analysis (ESDA) conference, founding president and co-founder of SDPS. The SDPS is becoming a leader in the dissemination of transdisciplinary research and education at international conferences which bring together diverse combinations of people with a wide range of backgrounds, including science, engineering, medical, and business. Dr. Ertas has earned both national and international reputation in engineering design. Dr. Ertas is co-editor of more than 35 conference proceedings, senior co-author of transdisciplinary design textbook, The Engineering Design Process, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc, and author of Fundamentals of Engineering (Static, Dynamics, and Strength of Materials) published by TheATLAS. Additionally, he has published over 150 scientific papers that cover many engineering technical fields. He has been PI or Co-PI on over 40 funded research projects.

Three of Dr. Ertas’ design projects completed at Texas Tech University have won national awards. His research project entitled "A New Liquid Desiccant System Design for Peanut Drying'' has received a National Energy Award (April 27, 1994) from Department of Energy (DOE). Dr. Ertas’ contributions to teaching and research have been recognized by numerous honors and awards. The honors and awards include:President’s Excellence in Teaching; Pi Tau Sigma Best Professor Award; Pi Tau Sigma Outstanding Teaching Award; Halliburton Award in recognition of outstanding achievement and professionalism in education and research; College of Engineering Outstanding Researcher Award; George T. and Gladys Hanger Abell Faculty Award for overall excellence in teaching and research; and President’s Academic Achievement Award. He also received the most prestigious SDPS George Kozmetsky Distinguished Achievement Award and Excellence in Leadership Award.

Recently in his honor, the Society for Design and Process Science established the Ertas Transdisciplinary Scientists and Engineers Award to recognize distinguished achievement in transdisciplinary science and/or engineering as evidenced by contributions to transdisciplinary education and/or research with the use of creative and innovative methods and visionary leadership.