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HIGHL IGHTS A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 6 1 IMAT 2020 Update Emerging Professionals and Student Perspective Jessica Cummings The Emerging Professionals Com- mittee (EPC) and Student Board of Trustees (SBoT) are very excited to be a part of IMAT 2020, a new multidis- ciplinary materials and applications conference organized by ASM and its partners. The EPC and SBoT are important groups in ASM’s membership, as they find and engage the future leaders of the industry and the organization. The joint effort of these two groups will soon make IMAT a leading conference for participation among students and emerging professionals. The EPC has been an ASM committee for 12 years, and it focuses on providing resources to members and materi- als professionals who are just entering and developing their careers. These resources include webinars, publications in Advanced Materials & Processes magazine, and a yearly symposium, “Perspectives for Emerging Materials Profes- sionals.” To foster further involvement in ASM, the EPC con- nects recent graduates taking advantage of their free year of professional membership with their new local chapters. The EPC even advocated for a reduced-rate emerging pro- fessional membership category at ASM. The SBoT program has helped guide ASM strategic priorities for engaging the university demographic. From advising on social media tactics and launching the ASM DomesDay Competition, SBoTs have been an important part of student programming at the national level. For IMAT, they are providing input on a new ASM student poster con- test and have been involved in planning the overall student conference schedule. These organizations are very proud to participate in the IMAT 2020 conference and bring new and exciting pro- gramming to engage students and emerging professionals. Some familiar programming will be continued, such as the DomesDay Competition and EPC symposium. New pro- gramming will include a Career Expo—open to students, emerging professionals, and even seasoned veterans—as well as a trivia-based targeted networking event, a Materials ThinkTank Competition, and a Passport Program to encour- age technical/social participation. FROM THE FOUNDATION Cummings FROM THE FOUNDATION Summer Camps and Celebration Summer brings to mind images of lemonade, porch swings, and slow, lazy days. Those images do not reflect the summer activities of the ASM Mate- rials Education Foundation. Our office is brimming with coor- dinating Materials Camps and prepar- ing for Eisenman Camp students to arrive at the Dome. This year, we are also preparing for our 20th Eisenman Camp celebration event on July 20. The Foundation’s busy summer is also taking place with YOU at Materials Camps across the country. Thank you for all that you and your chapter do to ensure the success of the Materials Camp in your area. (If you don’t have a Camp and would like to talk about it, let me know.) In addition to our outstanding master teachers who instruct the Materials Camps, we thank all those who volun- teer with the program. Your efforts to ensure that teachers have a good experience is invaluable. We recently surveyed teachers who attended the 2016-2018 Materials Camps. Over 65% increased the time they spent on materials science instruction. Almost 70% reported a “great deal” of professional learning on “new ideas or approaches to instruction” and gained “confidence with materials science concepts.” A majority of participants reported that the Camp experience increased their scientific knowledge and improved preparation for use of labs and investigations in classroom instruction. While the survey results show how highly teachers regard their Materials Camp experience, we continue to make sure teachers and students receive all the support they need to bring materials science into classes. That is why we are excited to launch several new resources for teachers to implement throughout the school year, so the great feeling from Materials Camp can last all year. We will be calling on volunteers and supporters to assist with these resources in the coming months. Thank you for your efforts during these months that are often about relaxation. We appreciate your willingness to work hard so educators can learn about materials science at our Materials Camps for Teachers, and then can share that knowledge with students in the fall. Just find time for at least one of those lemonades. Carrie Wilson Executive Director ASM Materials Education Foundation Wilson