FeMET Grants for 2011-2012 Awarded
11/02/2011 - The AIST Foundation and the American Iron and Steel Institute’s “Ferrous Metallurgy Education Today,” or FeMET Initiative has awarded its grants for the 2011–2012 academic year.
The Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) Foundation and the American Iron and Steel Institute’s (AISI) “Ferrous Metallurgy Education Today,” or FeMET Initiative has awarded its grants for the 2011–2012 academic year. The Initiative aims to attract top talent to the North American steel industry.
“The FeMET program continues to champion one of AISI’s important priorities: to attract top notch talent to become part of the North American steel industry,” said Thomas J. Gibson, AISI President and CEO. “Investing in the next generation’s workforce is critical to building a sustainable future for the steel industry.”
“Now in its seventh year, the FeMET Initiative continues to ensure university engineering students in North America have access to updated curriculum reflective of today’s highly technological steel industry. Through this initiative, the steel industry continues to make a sound investment in its future,” said Ron Ashburn, AIST Executive Director.
FeMET Curriculum Development Grant — Six grants in the amount of US$5,000 each were issued to professors of ferrous metallurgy or materials science. Five of the six grant recipients represent renewals from 2010, including:
· Dr. Sivaraman Guruswamy, University of Utah (Year 5 of 5)
· Dr. S. Komar Kawatra, Michigan Technological University (Year 3 of 5)
· Dr. John A. Nychka, University of Alberta (Year 2 of 5)
· Dr. Marian Kennedy, Clemson University (Year 2 of 5)
· Dr. Randy J. Bowers, University of Windsor (Year 2 of 5)
In addition to the five grant renewals, one new grant was awarded to:
· Dr. Joseph P. Domblesky, Marquette University (Year 1 of 5)
The program’s objective is to utilize students to assist in the editing and updating of textbooks and/or other course materials for use in ferrous metallurgy education, with an underlying objective to increase industry awareness within the academic community. Proposals must indicate how the professor will approach the task, including budget and schedule requirements.
The number of awards granted depends on fund availability; the maximum grant per award will be US$5,000 per year for five years for a total of US$25,000.
FeMET Design Grant — Dr. Lifeng Zhang and a team of materials science and engineering research students from Missouri University of Science & Technology have been selected for their proposal entitled, “The Impact of Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) and Embedded Electronic Components on the Recyclability of Automobiles.” Their proposal was submitted in response to the 2011–2012 design theme, “The recyclability of automobiles — past, present and future — i.e., the impact of advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) and embedded electronic components.” As a result of the selection, Missouri University of Science & Technology was granted US$50,000.
The Design Grant program challenges North American university teams (students and professors) to submit proposals for grant funding in the theme area selected by the steel industry. The proposal should indicate how each team of professors and undergraduate students will approach the problem, including budget and schedule requirements. The maximum allowable time for the project is one year, beginning in the fall of 2011. The number of awards granted depends on fund availability; the maximum grant per award will be US$50,000.
The AIST Foundation is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized for charitable, education and scientific purposes that seeks to attract technology-oriented professionals to the steel industry by educating the public about the high-tech, diverse and rewarding nature of careers in modern steelmaking. Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis to talented and dedicated students to encourage the pursuit of a career within iron and steel-related industries. Approximately US$420,000 in scholarships and grants was awarded in 2011 through the AIST Foundation and its affiliated groups. The AIST Foundation is part of AIST, an international professional and technical association of more than 14,000 professional and student members. For more information about the AIST Foundation, visit www.AISTFoundation.org.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. The Institute comprises 25 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI’s member companies represent approximately 80% of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more information, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org.
