What are top moments in science, engineering history?

Voting for the world’s greatest moments in materials science and engineering history has begun via an online survey at www.materialmoments.org/survey.html, developed by JOM, the journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS). The top 10 materials moments will be spotlighted at the TMS 2007 annual meeting and exhibition, to be held at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Fla., February 25 to March 1.

Professionals in the materials field as well as the general public may vote for their top 10 moments from a list of 100 nominees. The deadline for voting is December 31. The list includes moments such as smelted copper being observed in a fire pit in 8000 B.C, which brought about the birth of extractive metallurgy; French chemist Count Hilaire de Chardonnet building the first commercial rayon plant in 1891, which enabled commercial production of synthetic fibers; the splitting of the uranium atom by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1939, which ultimately lead to both nuclear power and weapons; the invention of the transistor by John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain, and William Shockley, which created the building block for modern electronics; and Don Eigler spelling out “IBM” at the nano-level by manipulating xenon atoms, which demonstrated the idea of bottoms-up manufacturing.

Visit www.materialmoments.org for all 100 nominees as well as an explanation of the methodology used to compile the list.

“As I read through the list of 100, I am in awe of the impact materials have had on our world. All aspects of our quality of life have either been enabled by, or certainly facilitated by, these accomplishments,” said Diran Apelian, professor of mechanical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and 2007 vice president of TMS. “On a personal level, I feel proud to be part of this community. Each of these moments shines in its own way; however, together, these moments create an amazing and beautiful tapestry proclaiming the wonders of human innovation.”

“Reading through the list provides a concise history of the entire materials field,” said Warren Hunt, executive director of TMS. “As we look through the moments, there are a lot of things that we enjoy today that have their foundations in developments that took place years ago. As a society, the foundations of TMS date back many years. For both the materials profession and TMS, our future is built on our past.”

JOM is presenting the greatest materials moments in commemoration of TMS’s 50th anniversary in 2007 as a member society of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME). The announcement of the top 10 materials moments at the society’s annual meeting will inaugurate three days of plenary sessions covering the last 50 years of technological progress in materials, and the future direction of materials science and engineering.

“As a society dedicated to the service of the materials science and engineering community, it is important for TMS to reminisce on the glorious past of the profession,” said 2006 TMS president Brajendra Mishra. “I believe it is vital to remind ourselves of those marvelous moments in metals and materials invention that will undoubtedly shape the future of mankind. What better time to do it than on the 50th anniversary of TMS?”