Kingsly Ambrose, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, was recently honored with the SMV Technologies Ergonomics, Safety and Health Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers at its international meeting last month. This prestigious award celebrates outstanding contributions — including exemplary performance, product or program innovation, impactful research, educational initiatives or published works — that advance agricultural and biological safety and health.
It means a lot to be recognized by my colleagues — it shows they understand the importance of the work I’ve been doing and how much it’s impacting other industry professionals and agriculture in general." -Ambrose
Ambrose was recognized for applying scientific fundamentals and engineering principles to improve safety in grain handling and processing. His research focuses on how particle-scale data can be used to understand the bulk behavior of agricultural materials — knowledge that is critical for preventing common and dangerous incidents in the ag industry. By studying the physical properties of these materials and their macroscopic behaviors during processing and utilization stages, Ambrose has developed advanced technologies and predictive models. His innovations include a sensor technology that detects and measures suspended dust concentration to help prevent grain dust explosions and systems that improve bulk material flow, reducing the risk of structural failures and human entrapments in grain storage bins.
“On average, 10 explosions occur in grain facilities across the U.S., resulting in deaths, injuries and millions of dollars in damages and insurance claims,” Ambrose said. “These incidents don’t only affect the industry and employees; they affect surrounding communities. We need to conduct more research and train industry workers — both employers and employees — on the dangers of dust explosions, from where they start to why they happen.”
With nearly 14 years of experience in grain dust explosion research and prevention, Ambrose is committed to outreach and education. He actively shares science-based knowledge with industry professionals, equipping them with the tools needed to make more informed safety decisions and prevent dust-related hazards. His work continues to deliver innovative, practical solutions that elevate safety standards and provide lasting societal benefits across the agricultural industry.
At Purdue, we lead the work for grain dust explosion prevention and agricultural safety in the U.S. My goal is to continue this preventative work, developing new methods and a complete, full packaged technology for the industry to use moving forward.” -Ambrose
