Standardization News

NSI Announces 2021 Student Paper Competition

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and its committee on education have announced their 2021 paper competition. The theme is “The Use of Standards in the Global Fight Against COVID-19.” The competition is part of a long-term effort to spread awareness among postsecondary students of the strategic significance of standards and conformance. The deadline for entries is April 30, 5 p.m. ET.

The paper competition is open to students enrolled full- or part-time in associate, undergraduate, or graduate programs during the period of September 2020 to April 2021 in U.S. higher education institutions. A small number of finalists will be invited to give an online presentation to the review team before a winner is chosen. The winning papers will be announced in June 2020.

For more information contact Lisa Rajchel, ANSI, lrajchel@ansi.org. 

Graduate Scholarship Applications Due in April

The ASTM International Graduate Scholarship program aims to enhance students’ knowledge, understanding, and application of ASTM International and its standards. A $10,000 scholarship is presented each year to as many as four high-potential graduate students who have demonstrated high levels of interest or involvement with ASTM standards. 

The application deadline for the 2021 graduate scholarships is April 30. MORE INFORMATION.

Mather Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted

Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 ASTM International Katharine and Bryant Mather Scholarship. Full-time undergraduate students completing their second/sophomore years of college (or later) or graduate students (specializing in cement or concrete materials technology) from any country are eligible to apply. 

The scholarship provides up to $7,500 in tuition assistance. Applications are due April 30. MORE INFORMATION. 

2021 Emerging Professionals and Program Recap

The Emerging Professionals (EP) Program is now accepting nominations for 2021. 

The program aims to offer an opportunity with long-term benefits to newer members who have demonstrated the potential to be industry and committee leaders. The program features meetings with leadership development training, a comprehensive introduction to ASTM and its standards development process, complimentary participation in the CliftonStrengths assessment, and more.

The 2020 EP Program, held completely virtually, allowed broader participation in the program as well as the further opportunity for student members to be nominated and accepted into the program. In 2020, the program included three workshops with 47 EPs (with 7 from outside the United States, 5 students, and 2 from memorandum of understanding partners) representing 32 committees. In addition, 23 previous EPs were part of the Strengthsfinders session held in April.

Snapshot of EP Program: 

• Program in place for five years,
• 88 out of 148 committees have had an EP
• 183 Emerging Professionals have gone through the program
• 19 EPs have come from countries outside of the United States
• 72 EPs hold official roles within their committees (officers, sub-chairs, section chairs)
• 17 EPs have received committee awards

ASTM International Offers Student Project Grants

ASTM International offers $500 grants for university students to help with senior or graduate design projects that contain an ASTM International standards component. 

“These grants allow ASTM International to support students who are directly engaging with our standards in real-world scenarios as they work on capstone projects,” said Travis Murdock, academic outreach coordinator and staff manager at ASTM. “The goals of these innovative projects, from accessibility-focused technology to helmet safety, support what we strive to do every day: help the world work better.”

Students interested in applying for 2021 grants should submit an abstract, including: 

• Summary of the project goal,
• List of ASTM International standards that are being considered to achieve that goal,
• Declaration of intent to submit an application paper for publication by ASTM International on completion of project, and
• Statement of endorsement by a faculty member.

The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31. MORE INFORMATION.

ASTM Metallography Committee Awards 2021 Mary R. Norton Scholarship

ASTM International’s metallography committee (E04) has awarded its 2021 Mary R. Norton Memorial Scholarship to Morgan Ashbaugh, Montana Technological University. 

The Norton scholarship encourages female college seniors or first-year graduate students to pursue the study of physical metallurgy or materials science, with emphasis on relationship of microstructure and properties. The winner receives $1,000 toward the forthcoming academic year.

Nominations Welcome for 2021 Professor of the Year Award

Nominations are now being accepted for ASTM International’s 2021 Professor of the Year award. The award, given every other year, recognizes and rewards the contributions of educators in developing students’ understanding of standards. 

A cash award is given to the winning educator and to their university. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 31. To learn more and to nominate a colleague, visit the Professor of the Year page on ASTM International’s website (www.astm.org/studentmember/Professor_Year).