Professor James W. Dickens

Emeritus Faculty

Photo: James Dickens

Box 7625, Weaver Laboratories
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
27695-7625

Emeritus Office Room 184
Emeritus Phone: 919-513-0323
Dept. Phone: 919-515-2694
Fax: 919-515-7760
jwdicke2@unity.ncsu.edu

Noteworthy:

Dickens developed of the peanut kernel splitter and orientator.

Professor Emeritus, USDA

Bioprocessing

Retired: 1989

Biographical Sketch

Photo: James Dickens with his peanut kernel splitter and orientator

James. W. Dickens had a strong influence on department accomplishments in the area of peanut mechanization. Dickens received his degree from NC State University in 1955. He then served as superintendent of the Whiteville Tobacco Research Station and assistant superintendent of the Oxford Tobacco Research Station before he returned to the department to earn his M.S.A.E. He remained in the department as a research professor and an employee of the ARS-USDA for the remainder of his career.

Dickens represents a fine example of the departments close relationship with U. S. Government research organizations. The departments research in the peanut area attracted the USDA to work closely with the department on peanut quality and eventually lead to the firm establishment of the USDA lab for peanut quality research at Weaver Labs. This lab stemmed directly form his efforts in peanut quality engineering.

Dickens is most noted for his development of a peanut kernel splitter and orientator. This machine is used for on-site quality checks of peanuts delivered to market and is still in use today. Dickens is shown with the machine. It is even used on the most famous peanut farm in the U.S. that of former President Jimmy Carter.

For more information about peanut mechanization in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering please see the BAE newsletter on Peanut Mechanization and the Peanut Mechanization photo gallery.