HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | MARCH 2026 58 Affiliate Society News For Affiliate Society news, see updates on page 42 from the Shape Memory and Superelastic Technologies Society, and page 48 from the Thermal Spray Society. FROM THE FOUNDATION Communities Support Camps As chair of the ASM Materials Education Foundation Board of Directors, I am honored to be a part of the meaningful impact our work continues to have on the future of materials science and engineering. Through our programs, we ignite curiosity, inspire innovation, and empower educators and students to explore the limitless possibilities within STEM. A cornerstone program to achieve our mission is professional development for teachers and in the year ahead we remain deeply committed to expanding access for educators. By equipping teachers with high-quality materials science and engineering content, hands-on experiences, and classroom-ready resources, we are multiplying our impact. One inspired teacher can reach hundreds of students each year, opening doors to careers those students may never have imagined. Investing in educators remains one of the most effective ways we can help shape a diverse, skilled, and innovative future workforce. I am also excited to share that registration has been open for several months for our 2026 ASM Materials Camps and many teachers are already committed to attending. These immersive, hands-on learning experiences continue to be a defining part of our work, offering students and teachers meaningful exposure to materials science in action. With continued growth and expanded locations, our camps are reaching more communities and inspiring more young minds than ever before. If you have never had the opportunity to visit one of our camps, I encourage you to do so. Watching educators engage, experiment, collaborate, and discover, brings the foundation’s mission to life in a powerful way. The energy, enthusiasm, and impact of these camps are truly inspiring and serve as a vivid reminder of why this work matters. None of this would be possible without the generous support of our community. The ASM Materials Education Foundation’s programs, from teacher camps to student experiences and classroom resources, are made possible through the commitment of donors, volunteers, and partners who believe in the power of education. Your involvement helps ensure that high-quality materials science education reaches students where it is needed most. As we look ahead to another exciting year, I invite you to stay engaged, whether by supporting our programs, spreading the word, inviting teachers in your community, or visiting a camp to experience the impact yourself. Together, we can continue to make a material difference and build a stronger, more inclusive future for materials science and engineering. Kip Findley, FASM Chair, ASM Materials Education Foundation OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS Undergraduate Design Competition This competition encourages the strengthening of design curricula in materials science and engineering departments. Awards include: First Prize: $2000 + $500 travel assistance + $500 to the department for support of future design teams; Second Prize: $1500 + $500 travel assistance; Third Prize: $1000 + $500 travel assistance. Deadline June 30. Student Chapter Grants These grants support Material Advantage student chapters in their outreach activities. Grants of $400 each are available. Deadline November 15. Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Award Deadlines March 15 – ASM-IIM Visiting Lecturer March 15 – Bradley Stoughton Award for Early Career Teachers March 15 – Engineering Materials Achievement Award April 1 – ASM Outstanding Graduate Scholar Award April 30 – Canada Council Awards To nominate someone for any of these awards, email christine.hoover@asminternational.org for a unique nomination link. It is ASM’s commitment to be inclusive and mindful of diversity in our policies, programs, courses, awards, and interactions with others. As an organization, we affirm and encourage nominations of qualified candidates, within each award’s criteria, regardless of their age, culture, ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. FROM THE FOUNDATION Findley
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