The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Association for Iron and Steel Technology Foundation’s FeMET Initiative has awarded its curriculum development grants for the 2005-2006 school year. Four university professors have been awarded an initial $5,000 each to fund proposals designed to enhance or update industry curriculum in ferrous metallurgy programs.

The objective of the program is to utilize students to help edit and update textbooks and/or other course materials for use in ferrous metallurgy education, with an underlying goal to increase industry awareness within the academic community.

Winning proposals for 2005–2006 school year were submitted by:

• Dr. Harvey Abramowitz from Purdue University Calumet, West Lafayette, Ind.
• Dr. Kip O. Findley from Washington State University, Pullman, Wash.
• Dr. John G. Speer from the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo.
• Dr. Robert H. Wagoner, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

The proposals indicated how the professor would approach the task, including budget and schedule requirements.

According to Ron Ashburn, AIST Executive Director, “This segment of the FeMET Initiative will start the process of updating steel-related curricula to ensure the latest steelmaking processes, grades, properties and applications are being taught at the University level. Both print and web-based programs have been targeted by the winning proposals.”

“These grants represent just one year of a five-year plan toward improving curriculum development for an industry offering significant opportunity to the next generation of engineers,” said Andrew G. Sharkey III, President and CEO of AISI. “We need to ensure the latest technology is being taught to best leverage a sustainable future.”

The Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) was formed on Jan. 1, 2004, by the merger of the Iron & Steel Society and the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers. AIST is an international technical association with 9,000 members representing iron and steel producers, their allied suppliers and related academia. The association is dedicated to advancing the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel. The AIST Foundation seeks to attract young technology-oriented professionals to the industry by promoting the high-tech, diverse and well-paying natures of careers in modern steelmaking.

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. AISI is comprised of 32 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.