Roger E. Billings

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Roger Billings
RogerBillings001.jpg
BornJanuary 1948
Provo, Utah
NationalityAmerican
Alma materInternational Academy of Science
Known forHydrogen Car, Acellus Learning System, GoldKey Security, WideBand Networking, Institute of Science and Technology (Founder), Church of Jesus Christ in Zion (Founder)
Spouse(s)Tonja Billings
AwardsGold and Silver Award - International Science Fair
Ten Outstanding Young Men - US Jaycees
Scientific career
FieldsHydrogen energy
InfluencesBill Lear, Sir Geoffrey Pardoe, Willis Hawkins, John K. Hansen
Websiterogerbillings.com

Roger Billings is an American scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, and founder of The Church of Jesus Christ In Zion. He is also the founder and head of the Acellus Academy, and online K–12 school originally created for his church, and its umbrella organization the International Academy of Science (also known as Science Mountain, by it's inhabitants). He has been featured in People Magazine and has been a guest on Good Morning America and Larry King Live. He has also been recognized in prominent magazines including Inc. Magazine and Entrepreneur.

Billings is the creator of the Acellus Learning System, which has been described as a scholastic "equalizer" for students that are falling behind academically.[1] However, this platform was criticized by parents for allegedly containing "racist and sexist" content.[2] A report released by the Hawaii Department of Education found that its curriculum promoted religion and contained "racial and cultural bias".[3]

Billings is also the CEO and Chairman of Billings Energy Corporation, a company focused on the development of hydrogen energy technologies. The company is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company plans to build upon privately funded research and development efforts conducted over the past ten years to bring to market commercial hydrogen energy applications.

Billings is the author of two books on hydrogen energy technology, Hydrogen from Coal: A Cost Estimation Guidebook (1983) and Hydrogen World View (1991), and the co-author of a technical networking book, WideBand Networking (2000). He has also authored numerous technical papers on hydrogen energy and on computer networking, including reports on his nano-latency data transfer research and development projects in conjunction with the US military, published in the SPIE conference proceedings.[4]

Education[]

Billings with hydrogen engine

In high school, Billings found his talent in winning at science fairs. His entries often won, including his projects on treating seeds with high frequency sound waves, voice-controlled amplifier for laser communications, and his project on a hydrogen-burning car.[5]

At Brigham Young University, Billings studied physics, chemistry, and electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1974. During his university studies, Billings was selected by Bill Lear, the creator of the Lear Jet, to be his protégé. Lear moved Billings and his family to Reno, Nevada, where, for nearly a year Lear mentored Billings in high-tech entrepreneurship.[6]

In 1988, Billings received his Doctor of Research Degree from the Institute of Science and Technology, an unnacredited Institution owned by Billings and often referred to as Science Mountain by those who live in the quarry. [7][8]

Career[]

Billings has led a multidisciplinary distinguished career in education and science. The U.S. Jaycees selected him as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men. In the 1980s he was recognized by Next Magazine as one of the 100 Most Powerful People. People Magazine featured a profile on his work, and he appeared as a guest on Good Morning America and on the Larry King Live radio talk show. His company was listed as the 33rd fastest growing company in America by Inc. Magazine, and his achievements won him the crown of Young Millionaire of the Month by Entrepreneur Magazine.

His most significant achievements have been his two hallmark organizations: the Acellus Academy, an online school, and the International Academy of Science. Both of which were created for his Mormon fundamentalist religion.

In 2016 Billings came up with a new academic model called The Success Zone, based on the thought that the current teacher evaluation model is not as motivational as it was intended to be. Billings proposes a new way to monitor and evaluate teachers, which he believes will improve attendance, completion of coursework, and better prepare students for college.[9]

Billings hosts an internet TV show called Science Live, where he often presents his latest inventions. He unveiled the “Billings Fuel Cell Car,” a car that has no greenhouse emissions, has a fuel cell that produces hydrogen, and operates at a lower cost than traditional cars.[10]

International Academy of Science[]

Billings is the co-founder of the International Academy of Science (IAS).[11] The IAS is an educational institution that offers four degree programs which include apprenticeship programs and graduate programs. The highest degree that it offers is the Doctor of Research and Innovation degree. The IAS is also the publisher of the Journal of Science, a peer-reviewed journal that is published in electronic formatting.[12]

The IAS does not charge for mentorships or tuition, and it is based on a set of principals including divergent thinking, compelling leadership, and respect for innovators.[13]

In 2020, after partnering with Acellus, the Hawaii Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design recommended that Acellus content be removed as a curriculum option at Hawaii schools. In response to the panel’s concerns, Acellus created 23 new courses to fix every item that the panel discussed in its report.[14]

Hydrogen energy[]

Billings generated interest in hydrogen technology by demonstrating a number of working prototypes, including cars, buses, forklifts, tractors, and a hydrogen-powered home.[15] During his career, Billings was touted in the press for his contributions in developing hydrogen energy. The Enterprise business journal called Billings “The Father of Hydrogen Technology.”[16] An Omni Magazine report on his work in 1982 dubbed him “The Hydrogen Man"[15] and an article in the July 21, 2003, issue of Time Magazine referred to him as "Dr. Hydrogen".[17]

In 1971, as an undergraduate student, Billings received a research grant from the Ford Motor Company and his own lab to continue his studies of the hydrogen-fueled automobile,[18] an area of interest (Billings had won first place in a high school science fair for a project he did on hydrogen-fueled cars). In 1972, Billings led a university team to winning first prize at the Urban Vehicle Design Competition, sponsored by General Motors. The team's winning entry was a hydrogen-powered Volkswagen.[19]

Furthering his interest in hydrogen power, in 1972 he started the Billings Energy Research Corp. The company successfully converted 18 vehicles to run on hydrogen. During the 1970s energy crisis, Billings built what was called the Hydrogen Homestead, a house whose heat pump, water heater, oven, range, fireplace log, and outdoor grill were all run on hydrogen. He expanded the project to cars, building a hydrogen-fueled Cadillac Seville that was able to switch back and forth between hydrogen and gasoline (this made it more practical, as hydrogen was not abundantly available at the time). The Seville he built was used in the 1977 inaugural parade of President Jimmy Carter.[citation needed]

After converting family car-sized vehicles to run on hydrogen, Billings turned to mass transit, converting city busses to run on hydrogen. In 1977, he launched the Postal Jeep project. Two years later, he expanded his research to coal-go-gas conversion plants.[20][citation needed]

Computer networking[]

Billings established the Billings Computer Corporation in 1977, which manufactured one of the first personal computers, called the Billings Computer. His company acquired the rights from Microsoft to use EBasic, paying Microsoft to help fund development of Fortran and COBOL compiling software. A photograph of Billings and a young Bill Gates was featured in 1982 in Time Magazine.[21]

In 1978, he hired Alan Ashton to develop the Billings Word Processor, an award-winning computer program. Ashton later went on to create WordPerfect in 1981 after the launch of the IBM PC.[citation needed]

Billings was also the founder of Caldisk, Inc., which played a role in creating the double-sided floppy disk used in early PCs. He also invented a new method of sharing data between computers on a network known as functionally structured distribution (FSD), the forerunner of modern client-server computing and known as one of the enabling technologies of the Internet.[22][23]

References[]

  1. ^ Williams, Mara (March 27, 2018). "Online, interactive learning system called a "game changer" in preventing dropouts". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  2. ^ "Alameda school district cuts ties with online program after objections to 'racist and sexist' content". SFChronicle.com. 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  3. ^ "Acellus online curriculum promotes religion, shows racial and cultural bias, Hawaii reviewers find". StarAdvertiser.com. 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  4. ^ Kim, Hajin (May 11, 2012). "Common hardware-in-the-loop framework development". Proceedings of SPIE. 8356 Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop XVII 83560O. doi:10.1117/12.885648.
  5. ^ Perry, Leo (April 27, 1966). "Youth's Hydrogen Motor Wins Trip to Dallas". Deseret News. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
  6. ^ Tepper, Ron (January 1982). "Young Millionaire of the Month". Entrepreneur Magazine.
  7. ^ "Dr. Hydrogen". The Pitch. 2005-01-20. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  8. ^ "Cloud of controversy follows 'Dr. Hydrogen'". LJWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  9. ^ Bamburg, April. "Acellus creator wants to empower students and teachers to succeed in The Success Zone". San Francisco Sun. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  10. ^ Beasley, David. "Inventor Roger Billings reveals plan for hydrogen car with fuel cell". Current Science Daily. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  11. ^ "Welcome to the International Association for Hydrogen Energy". www.iahe.org. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  12. ^ "International Academy of Science | science.edu". Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  13. ^ Pineda, Michael. "Acellus creator Billings: 'We must recognize the enormous value of the true innovator'". West LA Times. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  14. ^ "Acellus opposition movement could cost Hawaii schools $272 million". Aloha State News. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b Rose, Kenneth Jon (January 1982) Omni (magazine)
  16. ^ Bentley, Alene E. (Aug. 19, 1975), The Enterprise
  17. ^ Barlett, Donald and Steele, James (Jul. 14, 2003), "Hydrogen is in his Dreams", Time Magazine
  18. ^ "Student inventor granted funds", The Daily Universe, June 22, 1971
  19. ^ "UAP 2 Folder 325". contentdm.lib.byu.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  20. ^ "Hydrogen, Another Solution to the Energy Crunch", Mother Earth News (Mar/Apr, 1979)
  21. ^ Time Magazine, June 7, 2007, archived from the original on June 9, 2007, retrieved 2010-03-28
  22. ^ Patent, Billings, Roger E., "Functionally structured distributed data processing system", issued 1986-10-20 
  23. ^ CTR Editors (April 20, 2015). "Spotlight on: Dr. Roger Billings, Science and Technology Luminary". Computer Technology Review.

External links[]

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