HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JULY 2026 46 Allan Ray Putnam Service Award Mr. Robert L. Hanlin, University of Missouri Kansas City, department of civil and mechanical engineering, retired, will receive this year’s award “for exceptional service, duty, and tenure on the Action in Education Committee and Teachers Camp programs of ASM International in support of students and teachers and furthering the Society’s objectives and goals.” Dr. Ashok Kumar Tiwari, director, Chemi-Chem, Mumbai, India, will receive this year’s award “for devoted and continued service to ASM in different capacities for over two decades, and for contributing to chapter expansion in India leading to an increase in the membership base.” Established in 1988, the award recognizes the exemplary efforts of various outstanding members of ASM International on behalf of the Society to further its objectives and goals. The purpose of this award is to recognize those individuals whose contributions have been especially noteworthy and to whom the Society owes a particularly great debt of appreciation. Albert Easton White Distinguished Teacher Award Prof. Vilupanur Ravi, FASM, professor, chemical and materials engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, will receive this year’s award “for long and sustained dedication teaching students with extraordinary zeal and enthusiasm; pioneering and innovative contributions to high-temperature materials, protective coatings, and corrosion; and selfless service to mentoring students, and to materials professional societies.” The award was established in 1960 in memory of an outstanding teacher and research engineer who was a founding member and president of ASM in 1921. It recognizes unusually long and devoted service in teaching as well as significant accomplishments in materials science and engineering and an unusual ability to inspire and impart enthusiasm to students. 2026 AWARD PROGRAM HONOREES Silver Medal Award Prof. Lukas Bichler, professor, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada, will receive this year’s award “for stellar technical contributions in novel ceramic and carbon-based materials, development of advanced lightweight automotive materials, unique academic mentorship, and outstanding professional service to materials communities in USA and Canada.” Dr. Jeffrey Bunn, neutron instrument scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, will receive this year’s award “for outstanding leadership in neutron diffraction for residual stress characterization, transformative instrument development at ORNL, and dedicated service to ASM International at both local and national levels.” Established in 2010, the honor of Silver Medal of the Society recognizes members who are in mid-career positions (typically 10 to 20 years of experience), for distinguished contributions in the field of materials science and engineering, and the Society. The purpose of this award is to recognize leadership at an early stage and encourage individuals to grow, nurture, and further contribute to the growth of the profession, as well as the Society. Bronze Medal Award Dr. Jessica Buckner, R&D S&E Materials Engineering, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, will receive this year’s award “for contributions to hypersonics material development and titanium additive manufacturing, alongside her leadership in maintaining and reinvigorating the ASM Albuquerque Chapter, while leading multiple conferences, courses, and mentoring initiatives for the Society.” Dr. Ellen E. Wright, senior consultant, Engineering Systems Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, will receive this year’s award “for expertise in failure analysis and advancing the discipline through the Failure Analysis Society and technical content, while contributing to her organization as a leader and champion of a new regional office.” Hanlin Tiwari Ravi Buckner Wright Bichler Bunn
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