Carl C. Koch, a Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor of material science and engineering, has been nominated as a new member of the National Academy of Engineering — something most engineers can only dream of.
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-run resource of the best engineers from around the world for the purpose of both furthering the cause of engineering, as well as putting it to work in service to the government. When engineering leadership or counsel is needed, the academy provides it.
While Koch had not received warning for his nomination, the NAE hadn’t been far from his mind.
“It’s certainly every engineer’s goal,” Koch said. “It’s the most prestigious honor you can get.”
The NAE currently has 2,250 living members. The current members of the NAE elect new members like Koch based on performance. Because of this, engineers cannot apply to join, but must stand out and be noticed to gain membership.
According to Koch, the NAE noticed him because he has been a big part of the research community in North Carolina and is a member of five societies. Some societies, like the Materials, Metals and Minerals Society, have strict limits on the number of members and are as small as 100 living members.
Koch also stood out in the field of research. Koch explained many professors judge the success of their published paper by the number of citations it’s received, that is, times their work has been an important part of founding a new paper.
“My one paper that I’ve gotten the most citations on is one I did just before I left Oak Ridge National Laboratory,” Koch said. “It has around a thousand citations.”
Koch’s paper focused on the making of an amorphous material through mechanically alloying of elemental powders. On the NAE website, his election citation reads “For synthesis of amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys by mechanical attrition,” meaning the paper was instrumental in his nomination for membership.
As a NAE member, Koch will take part in the tasks the NAE typically executes, and by next year, will assist in the naming of new members. As far as typical tasks, the NAE requires members to sit on certain committees or study in a particular area, varying with what is important to the country at that time.
In addition to providing services to the government, the NAE also offers awards in two forms. The first are five prestigious awards for “lifetime dedication to [the] field and [the] commitment to advancing the human condition through great engineering achievement.”
In addition to these monetary awards, the NAE also presents the “Grand Challenges for Engineering,” 14 goals for engineers to complete within the next century which would drastically improve health and life quality. These challenges are lofty goals, like “make solar energy economical” and “reverse-engineer the brain.”
Members of the NAE may or may not do research with the Grand Challenges in mind, but are directed into research by request through the government.
The Department of Material Science and Engineering held a small celebration for Koch, during which he extended his thanks to a number of people, much of which went to his family, his co-workers and Justin Schwartz, the department head and fellow Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor of Material Science and Engineering.
