Academics

Messing elected World Academy of Ceramics president

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Gary Messing, distinguished professor of ceramics and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was elected president of the World Academy of Ceramics (WAC). He was elected at the 13th International Conference on Modern Materials and Technologies (CIMTEC) held in Montecatini Terme, Tuscany, Italy, June 8 to 19. Messing also served as co-chair of CIMTEC.

"I am honored to be elected to serve WAC as its next president," said Messing. "I have been involved with international communications and collaborations in the ceramics community for many years and believe that the World Academy of Ceramics is the ideal organization for further continuing these activities.

Messing is a fellow of both the American Ceramic Society (ACerS) and Materials Research Society. He also served as president of ACerS and was named a Distinguished Life Member, the highest honor accorded to members.

Messing is also past president of the International Ceramic Federation, member at large of the Industrial Science and Technology Section of AAAS and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Materials Research.

Messing’s research focuses on the processing of advanced ceramics for electronic, structural and optical applications. His research strategy is to control sintering and grain growth processes by first establishing a fundamental understanding of how powder synthesis, ceramic phase formation and power shaping influence the achievement of specific microstructure-property objectives. He recently accepted a position as co-director of the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) to advance additive manufacturing of ceramic materials. Messing has published more than 300 papers on developing ceramic materials for optical, piezoelectric and structural applications.

Messing earned his bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred University and his doctorate from the University of Florida. He joined Penn State in 1980.

WAC was founded in 1987 and is an international center that promotes progress in the field of ceramics by fostering a better understanding of the social impact and cultural interactions of ceramics science, technology, history and art. It is a voluntary, nonprofit organization comprised of collective and individual supporting members concerned with the welfare of the ceramics sector.

For more information about the WAC, see http://www.waceramics.org/ online.

Gary Messing, distinguished professor of ceramics and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was elected president of the World Academy of Ceramics (WAC).  Credit: Justin Wheeler / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated January 9, 2015

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