Professor Norris Stubbs lectures in civil engineering at Texas A&M University in the United States. He has spent 30 years studying the internal forces and stresses within structures using non-destructive damage evaluation. He holds the patent to a well-known and widely used technique called the Damage Index Method, which can be used to estimate damage to structures and their contents in the event of a hurricane or other disaster. Professor Stubbs was on the Texas A&M University team attached to the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Centre that examined the World Trade Centre after the 2001 attacks.

Norris Stubbs was born on 8th November, 1948 in Nassau, The Bahamas. He attended the Western Junior School, Western Senior School and the Government High School in Nassau, The Bahamas. As a child, he mastered several brass instruments, including the French and baritone horn, which he played in local concert bands and orchestras. While at school, he became a sprinter and represented The Bahamas in the Pan American Games in 1967 and the 1968 Olympics. He received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Physics from Grinnell College, Iowa, USA in 1971 before he obtained his Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master of Science (MSc) in Civil Engineering, and Doctor of Engineering Science (EngScD) in Engineering Mechanics at Columbia University, USA.

He started his career as an assistant professor in civil engineering and engineering mechanics at Columbia University in 1976. He moved up the ranks to Professor and mentored graduate students in the field of engineering mechanics. At least six of his former doctoral students became professors at other institutions around the world.

In the past two decades, Professor Stubbs has been actively involved in understanding how natural hazards such as extreme wind and water affect large buildings and structures like bridges. He ensures, through the application of quality management techniques, that structures can withstand these hazards, and his patented Damage Index Method has been applied to the Bay Bridge (San Francisco), the Vincent Thomas Bridge (Los Angeles), the Space Shuttle fleet, the Dang Sang Bridge (Korea), and the King Storm Water Channel Bridge (California).

In recent years, his work has focused on the development of algorithms to locate non-destructive damage in large structures. Professor Stubbs has made a significant contribution to the field of civil engineering, and his findings have resulted in over 250 publications. In 2005, he was presented with the Golden Coral Award by his homeland in recognition for his work in physics and engineering.

Professor Norris Stubbs advises children to “familiarise yourself with the great figures of science and technology… [and] learn from their experiences.”