Ceramic Tech Chat

Glass is a material with nearly infinite possibilities. John Mauro, Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, shares his experience working with glass in the worlds of industry and academia, discusses the do’s and don’ts of publishing your research in journals, and talks about the similarities between scientific and fantasy fiction wr...

Even the most advanced products start with raw materials. Michael Silver, president and CEO of American Elements, explains how he became involved in the materials supply chain, describes what comprises innovation at a materials supply company, and discusses how these companies handle some of the most challenging market factors affecting industries right now. View the transcript for this episode he...

Since the discovery of bioactive glasses in the 1960s, specialty glass manufacturer Mo-Sci has played a key role in bringing these materials to market. Steven Jung, chief technology officer at Mo-Sci, overviews the history of the company, discusses the science behind some of their well-known products, and describes how the company develops specialty glass products for a variety of end-user industr...

Nuclear power has been an important contributor to the U.S. energy portfolio since the 1950s, but few nuclear reactors have been built in recent decades. Rita Baranwal, senior vice president for energy systems at Westinghouse Electric Company, provides an overview of the nuclear power industry today, talks about the emerging focus on small modular reactors as well as full-size plants, and describe...

The U.S. national laboratory system serves a unique role in the country’s research and development landscape. Chris Heckle, director of the new Materials Manufacturing Innovation Center at Argonne National Lab, talks about how the national labs contribute to the innovation ecosystem, overviews the research that takes place at Argonne specifically, and describes how the new Materials Manufacturing...

Government space agencies traditionally drive most space exploration, but new entrepreneurs see opportunity to create space-based businesses. Jonathan Volk, senior manager of in-space manufacturing and advanced materials at commercial space company Sierra Space, talks about how he became involved with the commercial space industry, outlines Sierra Space’s vision for commercializing space, and cons...

More than one hundred years since The American Ceramic Society began, brick remains an integral—and interesting—part of today’s built world. John Sanders, director of the National Brick Research Center at Clemson University, shares how he became interested in researching brick and other clay-based construction materials, overviews what takes place at the National Brick Research Center, and discuss...

What will it take to mitigate the effects of climate change? Jürgen Rödel, professor and ceramics group leader at the Technical University of Darmstadt, discusses the most concerning effects of climate change, shares how he became active in advocating for sustainability, and describes what individual and organizational actions can be taken to preserve the Earth for future generations. View the tra...

When transitioning from student life to your professional career, finding supportive mentors in your community is key. Sanjay Mathur, director of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Cologne in Germany, shares his experiences mentoring students, reviews his current research on hybrid material interfaces and their properties, and talks about how societies like ACerS provide add...

What if ceramics are not as brittle as conventionally believed? Xufei Fang, junior group leader in the nonmetallic inorganic materials research group at the Technical University of Darmstadt, shares how his background in metals positioned him to pursue the study of dislocations in ceramics, reviews his current research in the TU Darmstadt group led by Jürgen Rödel, and describes initiatives underw...

While astronauts have some of the most public-facing roles at NASA, what other research takes place behind the scenes to make launching into space possible? Valerie Wiesner, research materials engineer at NASA Langley Research Center, shares how she became involved with the materials side of space research, describes working on mitigation strategies to minimize the impact of lunar dust, and gives...

What are the benefits and challenges of researching and publishing about ceramics from both an art and science perspective? Ryan Coppage, director of introductory and inorganic laboratories at the University of Richmond, shares how he became involved in both the art and science side of ceramics, describes his research on ceramic glazes, and talks about the new book he just published with The Ameri...

To develop materials that function in extreme environments, scientists need instruments capable of measuring material properties in those environments as well. Rick Weber, president and founder of Materials Development Incorporated, describes how his company develops instruments to test materials in extreme environments, discusses some recent experiments they have on the International Space Statio...

Materials scientists often look ahead to the next big thing—but sometimes looking back may inspire future research. Katherine Faber, Simon Ramo Professor of Materials Science at the California Institute of Technology, shares her journey to researching ceramic materials, how she got involved with studying objects of cultural heritage, and describes some of her recent projects. View the transcript f...

Now halfway through the International Year of Glass, glass scientists are looking to carry the momentum beyond this year to advance the future Age of Glass. Mathieu Hubert, glass development scientist and development program manager at Corning, shares how he came to a career in researching advanced glasses, the challenges in educating more people about these materials, and how he helps support the...

As the current generation of materials scientists approaches retirement, it’s essential to inspire a new generation to take up the reins. Marcus Fish, development director at the Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation, talks about the history of the Foundation, its mission, and its projects and initiatives to excite students about careers as ceramic and glass professionals. View the transcript for...

Every artifact in the universe has a surface, and modifying that surface can endow an object with new and improved properties. Christopher Berndt, Distinguished Professor of Surface Science and Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology, describes the use of thermal spray technologies to coat surfaces, the challenges companies face implementing these technologies on an industrial scale, and...

For centuries glass has been the material of choice for storing, shipping, and sipping wine. How did that come to pass, and why? Jim and Penelope Shackelford, authors of the ACerS-Wiley book “The Glass of Wine,” share how they developed a lifelong appreciation of wine, discuss the many intersections between winemaking and wine enjoyment that involve glass, and touch on how ceramics play a role in...

In May 2021, the United Nations declared 2022 the International Year of Glass. University of Central Florida professor Kathleen Richardson and The Ohio State University professor Manoj Choudhary discuss the importance of glass in our lives, give the history of IYOG, and preview some of the events taking place to celebrate this International Year. View the transcript for this episode here . About t...

Being a professor requires you to wear many hats, including being a teacher, researcher, mentor, and possibly more. Beth Dickey, Teddy & Wilton Hawkins Distinguished Professor and department head of materials science & engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, describes her work to attract and retain the next generation of materials scientists, including by incorporating data science into...

Strategic plans are a crucial tool for businesses to track their progress toward certain goals, but how do you develop a strategic plan? ACerS executive director Mark Mecklenborg and past president Dana Goski share how the new strategic plan for ACerS was developed, its top-level goals, and how the Society will start working with the plan. View the transcript for this episode here . About the gues...

Inspiring research in materials science works best when the information is relatable and easily accessible. Ricardo Castro, professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Davis, describes how a jet engine demonstration piqued his interest in ceramics, why he uses superheroes to teach students about materials, and discusses the importance of open-access publishing t...

While increased innovation is a desirable outcome of a diverse workforce, the compassion and understanding that arise is what will truly help us break down walls and build a better world. Olivia Graeve, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, San Diego, discusses her life growing up in Tijuana, Mexico, why she believes compassion is the key to a diverse c...

Diversifying both energy sources and workforce are necessary as we move toward a sustainable future. Sossina Haile, Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, discusses her work on fuel cell technology, her experience as an immigrant pursuing science in the United States, and some tips for supporting diversification in both of these areas. View the...

Sometimes the best way to learn is through doing something yourself. Adelle Schade, director of the Science Research Institute at Albright College, describes the importance of experiential learning in science education, her journey to founding SRI, and some of the student successes from the program so far. View the transcript for this episode here . About the guest Adelle Schade is dean of precoll...