ASTM Launches Central Philippine University Student Chapter

ASTM International has established a new ASTM student chapter at Central Philippine University (CPU), residing in the school’s Packaging Engineering program. Coursework for students in the program includes ASTM’s various packaging (D10) and primary barrier packaging (F02) standards.

Located in Iloilo City, the Philippines, CPU was founded by John D. Rockefeller in 1905. Part of its College of Engineering, ASTM’s program at CPU will be overseen by engineers Bernie Cangrejo and Danielle Sentillanosa, who will serve as program head and faculty advisor, respectively.

“As the pioneering packaging engineering program in Southeast Asia, the establishment of the ASTM Student Chapter at CPU fosters our vision to be a globally recognized institution of premier packaging education for producing quality packaging engineers committed to serving the country and the world,” says Cangrejo. “The connections and opportunities that it will bring mean capacity building for our faculty and helping our students to prepare for their future.”

Andy Kireta, ASTM’s new president, spoke at the chapter launch, remarking, “I firmly believe that what makes ASTM so successful is our ability to attract and engage with a diverse array of global technical experts who help drive standards development forward. And ASTM’s ability to advance standards and transform markets relies on an influx of technical experts to our open and transparent process.”

ASTM’s packaging committee (D10) is the lead sponsor for the chapter, working closely with the primary barrier packing committee (F02). Taken together, these committees have developed over 150 packaging standards and have over 600 members. In the coming years, they plan to build more opportunities for students beyond this new chapter.

ASTM launched its student chapter program in 2020. With this launch, CPU joins student chapters formed at Florida International University; the University of Engineering and Technology in Lima, Peru; the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom; and the Florida Institute of Technology.

Student Project Grant Applications Due Oct. 31

ASTM International offers a limited number of $500 grants to university students to help with student design projects that contain an ASTM International standards component. ASTM will post the results as a student standards application paper on the ASTM website.

Recognizing that students at some universities may need financial assistance in completing their graduate or senior capstone design projects and that the overall demonstration of the existence and understanding of industry standards and applicability to engineering is required, interested students should consider applying.

For the application, student(s) must submit an abstract summary describing the project that includes:

• Summarizing the project goal
• Listing the ASTM standards that are being considered to achieve the project goal
• Writing a declaration of intention to submit an application paper for publication by ASTM International on completion of the project
• A statement of endorsement from a faculty mentor

The deadline for project grant applications is Oct. 31. For more information, visit go.astm.org/campus.

Professor of the Year Nominations Now Being Accepted

ASTM International is currently accepting nominations for the 2024 Professor of the Year award. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 31.

Established in 2009, the goal of the Professor of the Year Award is to reward professors who introduce students to standards and encourage their use. The award is given to an educator, professor, or teacher at an accredited university who uses ASTM standards in the curriculum or classroom.

Professor of the Year winners receive an honorarium in the amount of $2,000. The university of the award winner will also receive a $2,000 honorarium.

Largest-Ever Emerging Professionals Class Attends June Committee Week

Congratulations to ASTM’s June Committee Week and D02 Committee Week Emerging Professionals. The largest-ever EP class attended the June Committee Week, and D02 saw strong attendance as well. Emerging Professionals are individuals who have been identified by their peers as up-and-coming leaders within their technical committees. D02 is ASTM’s committee on petroleum products, liquid fuels, and lubricants. 

Several Emerging Professionals attended D02 Committee Week.

Request an ASTM Guest Lecture

ASTM International staff and members are readily available to provide students and faculty with an overview of the world of consensus standards. These sessions are designed to expose future subject matter experts to the importance of standards, the process to develop them, resources available to students, and the ways they can get involved in ASTM.

Lectures can be presented in person or remotely. For more information, visit https://www.astm.org/get-involved/students-and-professors/for-students/memstudent24.html.