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ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES • JULY 2014 40
ASM
news
HIGHLIGHTS...NIST Anniversary
From the President’s Desk
The New Logo,
Walking the Talk
Entering our next century,
ASM International adopted
a new logo, new vision, and new
aspirations. Prior to unveiling
our new logo, we established
brand guidelines and engaged all
the stakeholders and employees
at Materials Park, as well as
members, customers, the ASMFoundation, affiliate
societies, and sister societies in communicating the
new logo and our enhanced outlook. Ongoing tasks
in this endeavour include
updating our product brand-
ing, affiliate logos, chapter
logos, building signage, and
more. Next, we sought feed-
back and the response was
mostly positive. The fresh
and modern look resonates
well with younger members and many long-time
members and customers have expressed enthusi-
asm in embracing our heritage of metals and mate-
rials. ASM volunteers and our sister societies note
that they appreciate the hard work, new look, trans-
parency, and communication. Of course, we can al-
ways do more.
I visited Materials Park on December 5, 2013,
and February 27, 2014, with a focus on reviewing
and energizing efforts to embrace renewal and re-
vitalization, reflecting the new centennial and new
look. Time and again, ASM has demonstrated a
unique ability to “think outside the box.” I am
humbled and energized by the very high caliber
and professionalism of ASM trustees, including
student board members. The Board has always
welcomed innovative proposals with due consid-
eration for selectivity, risk, and resources. I sin-
cerely hope that the new logo will inspire
innovation and advancement in member and
chapter development, quality of content and de-
livery, positioning of ASM as an information gate-
way, embracing student camp alumni as future
members, and partnering with sister societies, all
with an eye for the bottom line.
I continue to be mesmerized by the passion of
ASM volunteers as I visit the chapters. My recent
travels included trips to the U.S. Naval Research Lab-
oratory and National Academy of Engineering in
Washington, University of Connecticut, Pratt &
Whitney in East Hartford, Conn., and dedication of
the Savannah River Site, Aiken, S.C., as an ASMHis-
torical Landmark. I also visited ASM Chapters in
these locations and came acrossmany exemplary vol-
unteers whom I will identify in my next newsletter.
C. (Ravi) Ravindran
In late May, the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST), Gaithersburg, Md., celebrated 100 years of its metallurgy division
and 50 years of its polymers program. NIST researchers Bob Shull and
Chad Snyder spent several months coordinating speakers and entertain-
ment to commemorate a century of materials science advances at the
National Bureau of Standards (NBS), which became NIST in 1988. The
festivities included a day full of interesting lectures and stories of tech-
nology advances, and an evening reception in the NIST courtyard.
Associate director for laboratory programs Willie May kicked off the
celebration with a warm welcome and a bit of history from 1901, when
NBS was first established. Eric Lin, MS&E division chief, then thanked
the sponsors (including ASM) and talked about NIST’s dedication to
public service, technical excellence, and an open and dynamic working
environment. Lin turned things over to Isaac Sanchez, a mainstay in the
polymers division during the 1970s and 80s, who shared several enter-
taining stories.
In the next lecture, Richard Fields spoke about some of the disaster
investigations NIST has been involved with from its early days to recent
times. He shared how tragedies drove the creation of the metallurgy di-
vision: From 1902 to 1912, 41,578 train derailments occurred, with
roughly 13,000 deaths each year. The division was established in 1913 to
improve train safety, knowledge that was later transferred to shipbuild-
ing. Fields also spoke about bridge collapses, airline accidents, and the
Twin Towers investigation, and how such tragedies can lead to new stan-
dards and technologies. Several other interesting speakers rounded out
the day, followed by the lively courtyard reception catered by Dogfish
Head Alehouse. The 100th anniversary celebration was thoroughly en-
joyed by all.
Laurie Locascio (Director of the NIST
Material Measurement Laboratory), Willie
May (Associate Director of NIST for
Laboratory Programs), Robert Shull (NIST
Fellow), and Lawrence Kushner (Deputy
Director of NBS in 1979).
NIST Celebrates 100th Anniversary
of Metallurgy Division
Change is the
law of life.
And those who look
only to the past or
present are certain
to miss the future.
John F. Kennedy
Eric Lin, MS&E Division
Chief.
Attendees enjoyed a day of festivities at NIST’s 100th anniversary celebration
of its metallurgy division.