Society/Division/Section/Chapter News

For more information: ceramics.org

Welcome new ACerS Corporate Partners

ACerS is pleased to welcome its newest Corporate Partners: Comadur, Rath, and UBE Corporation America Inc.

To learn about the benefits of ACerS Corporate Partnership, contact Marcus Fish, director of development and industry relations, at 614-794-5863 or mfish@ceramics.org.

William H. “Bill” Payne, ACerS past president and DLM, 1941–2023

William H. “Bill” Payne, the so-called Grandfather of Angel Investing, died on Dec. 19, 2023. Payne was an international expert in the angel investing asset class, after a successful career as an engineer, CEO, and entrepreneur. He served as president of The American Ceramic Society in 1989–1990, and he was named an ACerS Distinguished Life Member in 2000.

Read Payne’s full obituary at https://ceramics.org/memoriam/william-h-bill-payne.

ACerS International Northeast India Chapter announces winners of essay competition

The ACerS International Northeast India Chapter’s highly anticipated essay competition, which drew more than 100 submissions from across the region, showcased a diversity of perspectives and insights. Following meticulous evaluation, the judges selected winners in two categories, Senior and Junior.

Senior category

• First place: A. Peer Mohamed
• Second place: Nitiksha Sharma
• Third place: Rajkrishna Hota

Junior category

• First place: Paulette William Xavier
• Second place: Sayan Maity
• Third place: Ahaana Paikray

ACerS Carolinas Section 2024 Annual Meeting

Sponsored by ACerS Carolinas Section and the University of South Carolina.

• Theme: Additive manufacturing of advanced ceramics
• When: April 16, 2024
• Where: University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.
• Agenda: Includes invited talks, student poster competition, and tour of the McNair Aerospace Center and the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Center at the University of South Carolina

For more information, visit the Carolinas Section webpage.

59^th Annual Greater Missouri (St. Louis) Section / Refractory Ceramics Division Symposium on Refractories

• Theme: Unleashing refractory potential: Root cause analysis
• When: March 27–28, 2024 (kickoff event the evening of March 26)
• Where: St. Louis, Mo., at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel

For more information and to register, visit the Greater Missouri Section webpage.

Volunteer spotlight: Scott J. McCormack and Kiyoshi Shimamura

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

Scott J. McCormack is assistant professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Davis. He received a B.E. in materials engineering at the University of Wollongong, Australia, and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

McCormack’s research focuses on thermochemical and thermophysical properties of materials in extreme environments for applications in hypersonic platforms, nuclear fission/fusion, and space exploration. He is a recipient of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Faculty development award (2020), National Science Foundation Early Career Award (2021), and Excellence in Teaching Award from UC Davis College of Engineering (2023).

Outside the lab, McCormack is passionate about STEM outreach. He has served as chair of the ACerS Northern California Section since 2020.

Kiyoshi Shimamura is deputy director of the Research Center for Electronic and Optical Materials at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and CEO of E-Crystal, Inc., which was founded in 2015 as a spinoff from NIMS. He is also a visiting professor in the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering at Waseda University, Japan.

Shimamura received a B.E. in chemical engineering from Waseda University, Japan, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry from Tohoku University, Japan. His research focuses on the design, growth, and characterization of novel single crystal materials, mainly for optical, piezoelectric, and semiconductor applications.

Shimamura is an ACerS Fellow and member of the Engineering Ceramics Division. As of January 2024, he is now chair of the ACerS International Japan Chapter.

We extend our deep appreciation to McCormack and Shimamura for their service to our Society!

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.

Aldo R. Boccaccini, FACerS, head of the Institute of Biomaterials at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, was elected Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering by the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering. The induction ceremony will take place at the 12^th World Biomaterials Congress in Daegu, Republic of Korea, May 26–31, 2024.

Manoj Choudhary, FACerS, adjunct professor of materials science and engineering at The Ohio State University, was invited to give the AGC/Professor Michael Cable Memorial Distinguished Speaker Award Lecturer at the ESG15/NCM15/SGT combined conference organized by the Society of Glass Technology. The conference will be held July 15–19, 2024, in Cambridge, U.K.

In Memoriam

• Daniel Button
• William Campbell
• Zaharia Cohn
• Thomas Eddy
• Samuel Etris
• Ronald Kilgore
• Murli Manghani
• William H. “Bill” Payne
• Arthur Petty

Some detailed obituaries can also be found on the ACerS website.

Awards and Deadlines

For more information: ceramics.org/members/awards

Division awards: Nominations due May 15 or May 30, 2024

Contact: Vicki Evans

Students and Outreach

For more information: ceramics.org/resources-for-students

Grad students: Choose GGRN to advance your career

Build an international network of peers within the ceramic and glass community by joining the Global Graduate Researcher Network (GGRN). GGRN is ACerS membership option that addresses the professional and career development needs of graduate-level research students who have a primary interest in ceramics and glass.

Membership in GGRN is only US$30 per year. Visit www.ceramics.org/ggrn to learn how GGRN membership can help you in your future career. Contact Yolanda Natividad, ACerS senior membership manager, with any questions.

ACerS Associate membership and Young Professionals Network (YPN)

The American Ceramic Society offers one year of Associate membership at no charge for recent graduates who have completed their final degree. To receive the benefits of membership in the world’s premier membership organization for ceramics and glass professionals, visit www.ceramics.org/associate.

Also, consider joining ACerS Young Professionals Network (YPN) once you are an ACerS member. ACerS YPN is designed for members who have completed their degree and are 25 to 40 years of age. YPN gives young ceramic and glass scientists access to invaluable connections and opportunities. Visit www.ceramics.org/ypn for more information or contact Yolanda Natividad.

ACerS’ diverse networks benefit all members

Be a part of ACerS’ growth! Invite your friends and colleagues to join you as a member of ACerS and help connect old and new friends together. ACerS is the gateway through which diverse groups of professionals and students interact, exchange information, and develop tomorrow’s technologies.

Did you know that individuals who have never been an ACerS member qualify for one year of Associate membership at no charge? They can start receiving the benefits of membership in the world’s premier membership organization for ceramics and glass professionals by visiting www.ceramics.org/associate and signing up today.

ACerS’ diverse networks benefit all members

Be a part of ACerS’ growth! Invite your friends and colleagues to join you as a member of ACerS and help connect old and new friends together. ACerS is the gateway through which diverse groups of professionals and students interact, exchange information, and develop tomorrow’s technologies.

Did you know that individuals who have never been an ACerS member qualify for one year of Associate membership at no charge? They can start receiving the benefits of membership in the world’s premier membership organization for ceramics and glass professionals by visiting www.ceramics.org/associate and signing up today.

The Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation welcomes new program manager

The Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation (CGIF) is pleased to announce Lori Houghton as CGIF’s new program manager. Houghton brings a background in education, business, organizational management, and program management to the team.

“It is a true privilege to be chosen to be the next program manager of CGIF,” Houghton says. “It is my passion to help others develop and grow, and this opportunity will help me positively impact others in the growing field of materials science.”

Amanda Engen, former CGIF program manager, is now the director of communications and workforce development at ACerS as of Jan. 1, 2024. Throughout her time with CGIF, Engen helped develop numerous student and educator outreach programs, such as the Teacher Training Workshops, Outreach in a Box, and the IGNITE MSE Professional Development Symposium.

“My time at CGIF was incredibly rewarding. I enjoyed working closely with educators and students alike to introduce them to the hands-on world of materials science,” Engen says. “I look forward to seeing how Houghton will grow the programs to reach even more audiences and support the brilliant minds shaping the future of ceramic and glass materials science.”

Support the CGIF and help inspire the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals through innovative programs by visiting ceramics.org/donate. Interested in volunteering with the CGIF? Contact Houghton.