Society/Division/Section/Chapter News

For more information: ceramics.org

ACerS member survey: Benefits and opportunities for growth

The American Ceramic Society’s Strategic Planning for Emerging Opportunities (SPEO) Committee met in April 2024 to discuss the results of the ACerS Member Survey, which was distributed from January to March 2024 to Society members. Overall, 365 members participated in the survey, which is an increase from 178 participants the last time this survey was conducted in 2022.

Survey participants ranged from 21 to 70 years old, with 76.1% male, 20.9% female, and 2.2% who preferred not to report their gender identity. More than half of participants reported being in the ceramic and glass materials field for at least 10 years.

More than 45% of participants work in academia, while 30% work in industry, with the remaining participants being retired, working in government, or not presently working. Just more than 70% of participants reported that ACerS is their primary association.

In addition to basic demographics, the survey explored the importance of certain ACerS offerings to members using a Likert scale, with one representing not important and five representing extremely important. The averages for each ACerS offering, ranked from most important, include

• Access to journals and scholarly publications: 4.35
• Networking opportunities: 4.23
• Hosting academic conferences: 3.78
• Professional recognition (e.g. awards): 3.72
• Continuing education opportunities: 3.62
• Student-only opportunities: 3.06

The order of these results remained consistent across participants’ career levels, which ranged from undergraduate students to retired. However, the relative importance of these offerings decreased as participants became more advanced in their careers. Only networking opportunities and access to journals and scholarly publications maintained higher averages across all career levels.

Regarding places of work, the results show that those who work in academia tend to be more interested in professional recognition and conferences, while industry participants tend to be less interested in those categories. Members who consider ACerS their primary professional society rated all offerings higher across all categories.

The survey also asked participants to describe ACerS in one phrase. Overall, the descriptive phrases were positive, with members describing ACerS as a “tight-knit community” that provides new knowledge and friendships while also “fostering ceramic scientists in global development.”

Members expressed a need for education on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other computer-based topics. There was strong interest in courses on energy materials, environmental issues, and additive manufacturing.

In summary, the results indicate that ACerS provides excellent services and resources for its members and does a great job fostering discussion of important topics within the ceramic and glass materials community. Some areas that ACerS can improve on include relating to the general public, creating more opportunities for international members to participate, and providing more networking opportunities.

Regarding next steps, SPEO chair Monica Ferraris asked each committee chair to review the survey data and determine actions and recommendations of relevance to each committee. SPEO will work to implement these recommendations in the coming year.

New ACerS Conference Mentor Program: Supporting professional growth at meetings

Mentorship is a cornerstone of professional growth, fostering innovation and community within the ceramics and glass field. The American Ceramic Society understands this importance, and the Society has for several years offered mentoring opportunities through its Student, Faculty, and Industry Mentor Programs.

This year, ACerS expanded its mentoring opportunities with the new ACerS Conference Mentor Program.

Designed for conference attendees, this program pairs experienced conference attendees with newcomers to offer guidance and support, enriching the conference experience for first-time attendees. Program benefits include

• Navigating conferences: For newcomers, attending a conference can be overwhelming. Mentors offer practical advice on navigating conference logistics, maximizing networking opportunities, and making the most of conference sessions.
• Building confidence: Having a mentor by their side boosts mentees’ confidence, encouraging them to actively engage with peers, present their work, and participate in discussions, ultimately enhancing their conference experience.
• Long-lasting connections: The mentorship bond formed during the conference may extend beyond the event, leading to lasting professional relationships, collaboration opportunities, and ongoing support within the ceramics and glass community.

The ACerS Conference Mentor Program has so far taken place at GOMD24, Cements24, and ICC’10. The conference mentor programs will continue into 2025 and are being planned for the following conferences: ICACC, EMA, Greater Missouri/Refractories Symposium, PACRIM with GOMD, and Cements.

Join us in fostering talent, promoting knowledge exchange, and shaping the future of ceramics and glass. Together, we can unlock the full potential of our community!

Learn more about the ACerS Conference Mentor Program.

Mark your calendars: 2025 ACerS Mentor Programs registration opens this fall

ACerS Mentor Programs facilitate knowledge transfer, skill development, and career guidance by pairing seasoned professionals with emerging talents. These year-long programs are offered for students, faculty, and industry.

Registration to participate as a mentor or mentee in the 2025 ACerS Mentor Programs will open in fall 2024. Learn more.

Eastern Tennessee Section hosts virtual seminar

The ACerS Eastern Tennessee Section invited Claudia Rawn, professor in materials science and engineering and director of education, diversity, outreach, and recruitment for the Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to present a virtual seminar on May 23, 2024, titled “Synthesis and characterization of Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ and isostructural compounds.”

Pittsburgh Section: Registration open for 2024 Golf Outing

Registration is open for the Pittsburgh Section 2024 Golf Outing. This year the event will take place at Birdsfoot Golf Club on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. Register and prepay for the event by August 12. To register, complete the registration form and return to Bill Harasty.

Attend your Division business meeting at MS&T24

Six ACerS Divisions will hold executive and general business meetings at ACerS Annual Meeting at MS&T24 in Pittsburgh, Pa. General business meetings will be held Monday or Tuesday in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Plan to attend to get the latest updates and to share your ideas with Division officers.

Monday, Oct. 7

• Electronics Division: Noon–1 p.m.
• Engineering Ceramics Division: Noon–1 p.m.
• Bioceramics Division: 2–2:30 p.m.
• Energy Materials and Systems Division: 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 8

• Glass & Optical Materials Division: 11 a.m.–Noon
• Basic Science Division: Noon–1 p.m.

Member notice: Do you qualify for Emeritus membership?

If you will be 65 years old (or older) by Dec. 31, 2024, and will have 35 years of continuous membership in ACerS, you are eligible for Emeritus status. Note that both criteria must be met. Emeritus members enjoy waived membership dues and reduced meeting registration rates. To verify your eligibility, contact Vicki Evans.

Member Highlights

For more information: ceramics.org/members

5

r

Volunteer Spotlight: Amar Bhalla and Steven Tidrow

ACerS Volunteer Spotlight profiles a member who demonstrates outstanding service to the Society.

Amar Bhalla is Distinguished Research Professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). He has a B.S. and M.S. in physics from the University of Rajasthan in India and a Ph.D. in solid-state science from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining UTSA, Bhalla worked in various roles at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and The Pennsylvania State University.

Bhalla’s current research focuses on understanding the nanostructure–property relationships of ferroic materials so they can be used in sensors for structural health and human health monitoring.

Bhalla has served ACerS in various roles, including as an active member of several committees, organizer of more than 60 symposia, and chair (1992–1993) and trustee (1998–2002) of the Electronics Division. He is a recipient of the Electronic Division’s Edward C. Henry Award (1993), which recognizes “the best paper of the last 10 years,” and was named an ACerS Global Ambassador Award in 2016. He is an ACerS Fellow and Distinguished Life Member, as well as an Academician of the World Academy of Ceramics.

Steven Tidrow is an Inamori Professor of materials science and engineering within the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. He earned a B.S. in engineering physics and an M.S. in applied physics from Texas Tech University and a Ph.D. in engineering physics from the University of Oklahoma.

After graduation, Tidrow served as a National Research Council Associate within the Electronics Technology and Devices Laboratory, a predecessor of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL). He later joined ARL as a principal investigator in 1994 and became a team leader in 1998. During this time, he conducted and led research on energy conversion; energy storage; and radio-wave, microwave, and millimeter-wave devices. He transitioned to academia in 2005 as chair of the Department of Physics and Geology at the University of Texas–Pan American.

Tidrow is an ACerS Fellow (2017) and Global Ambassador (2019). He previously served as chair (2014) and trustee (2016–2022) of the ACerS Electronics Division. He has also organized/co-organized numerous symposia and conferences.

We extend our deep appreciation to Bhalla and Tidrow for their service to our Society!

ACerStudent Engagement: Tony Annerino

Tony Annerino is a Ph.D. student in materials science and engineering at The Ohio State University and serves as a member of the ACerS President’s Council of Student Advisors (PCSA). He also volunteers at outreach events with the Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation on behalf of the PCSA.

“My experience attending ACerS functions as a graduate student has been incredibly helpful building my network of connections with other academic researchers and industrial contacts. I have greatly enjoyed participating in the education outreach opportunities that other ACerS members have introduced me to.”

You can take advantage of these opportunities as well by becoming a student member of ACerS. Learn more.

Names in the news

Members—Would you like to be included in the Bulletin’s Names in the News? Please send a current head shot along with the link to the article to mmartin@ceramics.org. The deadline is the 30^th of each month.

Clive Randall, FACerS, Distinguished Professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Materials Research Institute at The Pennsylvania State University, was named an Evan Pugh University Professor. The Evan Pugh University Professorship is the highest distinction bestowed upon faculty by Penn State.

Material Advantage members participate in 2024 Congressional Visits Day

Twenty-two students from seven universities participated in the 2024 Material Advantage Student Program’s Congressional Visits Day (CVD), which was held April 9–10 in Washington, D.C.

CVD is an annual two-day event that provides students with an opportunity to visit the U.S. capital to educate congressional decision makers about the importance of funding for basic science, engineering, and technology.

The CVD experience began with an opening reception on April 9 at The Credit Union House. Students partook in hors d’oeuvres and networking, and they also had the opportunity to prepare “elevator speeches” for their meetings the following day. The event’s speakers, listed below, shared insightful advice and experiences with the participants.

• Sean Gallagher, senior government relations officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Sophia Chan, APS/AAAS Congressional Fellow
• Marie Fiori, MRS/Optica AAAS Congressional Fellow

The following day, Material Advantage members descended upon the U.S. Capitol offices to attend meetings with their respective congressional leaders, sharing with them the importance of continued funding being allocated to science, engineering, and technology.

Continued thanks to David Bahr, head and professor of materials engineering at Purdue University; Iver Anderson, senior metallurgist at Ames Laboratory and adjunct professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Iowa State University; and Megan Malara, director of medical modeling, materials, and manufacturing at the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence at The Ohio State University for conducting training and for their assistance in helping to coordinate the CVD event.

Awards and Deadlines

For more information: ceramics.org/members/awards

Nomination deadlines for Division awards: Aug. 4, Sept. 1, or Sept. 25, 2024

Contact: Vicki Evans

CGIF holds outreach event at COSI’s Big Science Celebration

In May 2024, the Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation (CGIF) participated in the sixth annual COSI Big Science Celebration in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

The COSI Big Science Celebration, organized by the Center of Science and Industry, is renowned as the largest STEM event in the state. It provides a platform for science enthusiasts of all ages to engage in cutting-edge scientific demonstrations and interactive exhibits.

CGIF staff and members of the President’s Council of Student Advisors (PCSA) Education Committee presented an engaging and educational exhibit at the event. The heart of their booth was the captivating Candy Fiber Pull lesson from the CGIF’s Materials Science Classroom Kit, which shows the transformation of melted hard candy into thin fibers, mirroring the formation of glass fiber. This hands-on activity fascinated participants, offering a tangible demonstration of materials science in action.

Also helping in the booth were Eric Muskovin and Tim Powers (retired) of glass fiber producer Owens Corning. They explained the intricate science behind fiberglass and provided samples of fiberglass insulation. These real-world examples helped attendees, from curious children to enthusiastic adults, understand the practical applications of fiberglass in everyday life.

Overall, CGIF’s involvement in the COSI Big Science Celebration reinforced the foundation’s commitment to promoting STEM education and fostering meaningful community connections. This dynamic event showcased the exciting possibilities within materials science and highlighted the vital role of outreach in inspiring the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals.

Help expand the CGIF’s presence at outreach events like this one.