HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JULY/AUGUST 2023 66 FROM THE FOUNDATION Building Careers and Workforce Pipelines Hello and happy summer! You probably know that the ASM Materials Education Foundation team is busy creating experiences for students and teachers throughout the country. As an organization that is independent but cooperating with ASM International, we strive to work closely with ASM chapters and staff and consider ourselves critical to the next generation of materials scientists and engineers—and ASM International members. You may be wondering, how do our one-week experiences change lives? The ASM Foundation provides professional development for teachers and supports them throughout the school year to implement new hands-on, real-world STEM curriculum to bring science and engineering to life for their students. By reaching students in high school courses, we connect with a broader range of students, not just those who have self-selected to go into STEM fields. The ASM Foundation content can help build the workforce pipeline in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and other technical positions. Why this program? Why this content? The answer is in the responses that several individuals recently shared with us years after their high school materials science and engineering courses: “Materials science helped guide me toward that path and where I am today by allowing me to see more than just the wrench and the bolt, but to help understand how the processes and materials work together as a whole.” “Materials science changed my whole trajectory in the best way possible. I learned so much that I had not had exposure to prior and had a ton of fun doing it with all the hands-on opportunities… I would not have been on this path without the materials science class in high school.” “I owe the majority of my career trajectory to my high school materials science class.” Questions? Just ask. I’m always happy to share more about the ASM Foundation’s work. Carrie Wilson Executive Director ASM Materials Education Foundation FROM THE FOUNDATION EMERGING PROFESSIONALS Keep Learning and Sharing Your Passion The Emerging Professionals Committee is made up of early career and recent graduates interested in metals. I find it very interesting to see the wide array of metals opportunities that exist around materials science and specifically metallurgy. I approach things from a little bit more of a creative avenue than some. I am currently working on finishing up a master of fine arts degree in sculpture from the University of South Dakota, studying metal casting, blacksmithing, fabrication, woodcarving, and soft sculpture. My undergraduate degrees are in engineering and fine art from Dordt University in 2009 and I came back to graduate school after the pandemic. I earned certificates through ASM in Weld Metallurgy, General Applied Metallurgy, and Non-Ferrous Metallurgy, completing much of that during the slowdown that occurred due to the pandemic. Engineering and art are a more logical combination than some may realize, as art enhances visual thinking, creativity, and general problem solving. I am glad to see the abbreviation STEM updated to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). ASM has had creative workshops and contests like Materials Camps for Teachers, the International Metallographic Contest, and other unique activities. The information being shared by the Archaeometallurgy Technical Committee is interesting and shows some really creative questions being asked about the past. Archaeometallurgy is fascinating because as we learn about our past, we can see what was, but also be inspired to create new things that others will rediscover in the future. I am inspired by many people who are enthusiastic about being lifelong learners and sharing what they know with those interested in their experiences and knowledge. I hope Wilson Teachers learn hands-on activities to share with their students. Lammers
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