How Universities and Industries Can Collaborate
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Abstract:ASM is unique among materials professional societies in the distribution of industrial (>70%) and academic (<30%) members. Therefore, we are interested in ensuring that our members can benefit from each other. However, universities and industries are both well-established (and therefore somewhat entrenched) organizations with centuries-long histories. Not surprisingly, therefore, they have fundamentally different roles, responsibilities and metrics for success. Too often these differences make it challenging (on both sides) to engage in successful partnerships. Likewise, the expectation for faculty to engage primarily in federally funded research and to focus on fundamental academic rather than practical teaching presupposes that industrial research and hands-on learning are less valued in the university culture. Similarly, outreach usually emphasizes academic roles (e.g. professional societies, journal editorships) and not developing relations with industry leaders. At OSU’s College of Engineering, we have consistently ranked in the top five in the nation for industry-funded research; thousands of undergraduates engage annually in internships and co-ops and hundreds of companies vie to hire our graduates. In recent years, we have developed methods to encourage faculty, staff and students to partner with industries and engage in entrepreneurial activities including starting their own companies. This talk will focus on examples of how we have developed (in some cases unique) outward-looking, industry-friendly research facilities and education programs. In addition, if time permits, a summary of the ASM’s strategic plan will also be presented.
Biography:
Williams was Dean of the College of Engineering at OSU from 2011-2021, responsible for 1000 faculty and staff educating 10,000 students via a $310M budget. Williams represented OSU on the Business Higher Education Forum and the Council on Competitiveness, where he is a Senior Fellow. He also served on the board of One Columbus, driving central Ohio’s economic development and regional growth strategy. Williams was President of the University of Alabama in Huntsville from 2007 to 2011. There he served on the boards of the Tennessee Valley Corridor, the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce and the Alabama Business Council. Williams was VP Research at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA from 2000-2007 where he was on the boards of the NE PA Ben Franklin Technology Partnership and the Central PA Life Sciences Greenhouse, investing state funds in early-stage technology and life-science companies. Williams holds B.A., M.A., Ph.D., and Sc.D. degrees from The University of Cambridge. He is a (co-) author and editor of 13 textbooks and conference proceedings and (co-) author of 450 publications on electron microscopy studies of metals and alloys. He is a fellow of nine national/international societies for materials, electron microscopy, aerospace and aeronautics.
Williams was Dean of the College of Engineering at OSU from 2011-2021, responsible for 1000 faculty and staff educating 10,000 students via a $310M budget. Williams represented OSU on the Business Higher Education Forum and the Council on Competitiveness, where he is a Senior Fellow. He also served on the board of One Columbus, driving central Ohio’s economic development and regional growth strategy. Williams was President of the University of Alabama in Huntsville from 2007 to 2011. There he served on the boards of the Tennessee Valley Corridor, the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce and the Alabama Business Council. Williams was VP Research at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA from 2000-2007 where he was on the boards of the NE PA Ben Franklin Technology Partnership and the Central PA Life Sciences Greenhouse, investing state funds in early-stage technology and life-science companies. Williams holds B.A., M.A., Ph.D., and Sc.D. degrees from The University of Cambridge. He is a (co-) author and editor of 13 textbooks and conference proceedings and (co-) author of 450 publications on electron microscopy studies of metals and alloys. He is a fellow of nine national/international societies for materials, electron microscopy, aerospace and aeronautics.
