TMS Public and Governmental Affairs Resource Center

The following summarizes the 2005 Congressional visit held on May 10 and 11th. To see more of the 2005 activities, please visit the TMS 2005 Congressional Visits Days Photo Gallery.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION

Student Participation Raises Enthusiasm

Twenty TMS student members added a new dynamic to CVD activities in 2005. Prior to this, only TMS professional members had been meeting with members of Congress to discuss the plight of the materials science and engineering community.

“I can tell you that there was real value to having the students involved,” said Kevin Hemker, faculty advisor to students from Johns Hopkins University and two-time CVD participant. “In the meetings that we had, it was great for me to be able to emphasize the need for investments in basic science and then to be able to turn the floor over to the students, who exuded excitement and interest in science and articulated the need for government-funded undergraduate and graduate level research opportunities.”

In total, the TMS delegation included eight professional TMS members, three TMS staff members, and twenty students. Student members came from Drexel University, Johns Hopkins University, Iowa State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the University of Tennessee. Their travel and registration costs were funded in part by the TMS Foundation. The group met with 41 U.S. senators, representatives, and staffers in Washington, D.C.

AWARD PRESENTATION

Former TMS President Presents Award to Congressional Science and Technology Advocate

At a reception held in conjunction with CVD, 2003 TMS President Dan Thoma of Los Alamos National Laboratory presented the 2005 George E. Brown, Jr. Award to Jeff Bingaman, a senator from Thoma’s home state of New Mexico. Bingaman shared the award, which honors effective advocacy for federal investment in science, engineering, and technology, with Vernon Ehlers, a representative from Michigan.

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING

TMS Conducts Congressional Briefing on Nanomaterials

In conjunction with the CVD events, TMS led a nanomaterials briefing that provided background information on nanomaterials for members of Congress and their staffs. The briefing was part of the FMS Materials Information Luncheon series. The briefing “Nanomaterials: Making It Real by Materials Science and Engineering” was moderated by Iver Anderson, the chair of the TMS Public & Governmental Affairs Committee. Following introductory comments by Representatives Rush Holt and Judy Biggert, co-chairs of the Congressional Research and Development Caucus, presentations were made by Mark Kryder of Seagate Corporation, Keith Blakely of NanoDynamics, and Carl Koch of North Carolina State University. These presentations laid out the industrial technology base of the nanomaterials challenge and described the fundamental materials research directions that must be pursued to enable nanomaterials to be developed for commercial use.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

The 2005 TMS Delegation to Congressional Visits Day included 20 students, two student advisors, six additional professional members, and three TMS staff members. (Photo by Mattox Photography)

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