HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JULY/AUGUST 2025 59 EMERGING PROFESSIONALS EMERGING PROFESSIONALS EPC Membership Snapshot Every so often, the Emerging Professionals Com- mittee (EPC) pauses to look in the mirror. Who are we? Where did we come from? And most important, how do we keep the door open a little wider for the next new voice? A recent membership snapshot (see graph below) captures that spectrum in two simple measures: age band and current occupational role. This range of perspectives is one of the EPC’s greatest strengths. It fuels fresh ideas, challenges assumptions, and keeps our Society moving forward. Nearly one-third of today’s EPC members are under 35, and almost half identify their primary role as engineer or scientist. Yet the data also show seasoned voices—professors, project managers, and executives— standing shoulder-to-shoulder with students just starting down their path. When early-career members see pathways that stretch from the classroom to the C-suite, they recognize that ASM is a place where opportunity grows alongside experience. Why does this breadth of background matter? Materials challenges rarely arrive neatly packaged. Instead they demand imagination, collaboration, and, yes, a wide range of perspectives. When a graduate student from Brazil teams up with a professional engineer in Ohio, both learn from the partnership regarding how to approach from a new perspective. That spirit of mutual exchange benefits the community as a whole. This exchange starts inside the EPC. Whether studying in the U.S. or half a world away, the message is clear for students: You belong here. The EPC and ASM have invested in programs that lower barriers to participation, from virtual mentoring circles to time-zone-friendly webinars. We know that innovation thrives when people with different training, cultures, and problem-solving styles share the same table. By amplifying voices that have historically been quieter, we open doors for new materials breakthroughs and new professional relationships. What’s next? First, we will keep listening. The committee welcomes ideas on how to make events more accessible, how to highlight global research, and how to connect members searching for that first internship or post-doctoral post. Second, we will keep measuring. Numbers alone do not define community, but they help us see where outreach is working and where fresh initiatives are needed. Finally, we invite every reader—student, supervisor, or somewhere in between—to bring a colleague into the conversation. Our goal is not to create a perfect mixture, but to maintain a vibrant network where talent rises and every member can see a path forward.
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