Prolific Professor

One Person Can Change The World: Or At Least What The World Is Made Of

In 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, World War II was in full swing, and a young man named Hans Conrad was embarking on a career as a materials science researcher. Sixty-eight years later, he is still showing up to the lab every day, publishing top-notch papers and trying to figure out the physical and mechanical properties of the materials that make up the world we live in. I want to be him when I grow up.

Over the course of the past seven decades, Conrad – Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at NC State – has worked on aluminum alloys for aircraft, lasers, cold-welding materials in the vacuum of space, semiconductivity, superconductivity and ceramics.

“I am always impressed with his enthusiasm for science and how sharp he is,” says Carl Koch, Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor in MSE. “He is always at our seminars and asks incisive questions. He has made major contributions to many areas of materials science and in the last 20 years has been the leader in studying the effect of electrical or magnetic fields on materials behavior.”

Now in his late 80s, Conrad has published several papers in the past year on how electric fields could revolutionize the ceramics industry. For example, Conrad found that applying a small electric field results in faster formation of ceramic products during manufacture at lower temperatures, and enhances the strength of the ceramic itself. In short, you can make ceramics in less time, with less energy, for less money – and the quality of the ceramics actually improves.

In another 2010 paper, Conrad showed that the use of electric fields could make it vastly easier to deform ceramic materials. Not bad for a guy who, technically, retired from NC State 18 years ago.

Why does Conrad continue to work? “The major driving force is my strong interest in science,” Conrad says. “Also, continuing to do research provides a daily goal to my life. Moreover, I enjoy working with the students.”

Conrad has worked with ceramics off and on since the 1960s (e.g., he worked on ceramic heat shields for the space program), but now he’s focused on learning more about how electric fields could change the face of the ceramics field (pun intended). As Conrad told the Raleigh News & Observer in 2010, “That’s what research is about: Every time you answer one question, you open up 10 other questions. It could take the rest of my life.”

In addition to the satisfaction he derives from his work, Conrad is also being recognized by the larger community of materials researchers. ASM International, a prominent materials science and research society, announced June 29 that Conrad will be awarded the ASM Gold Medal for 2012. The medal has been given to a single researcher every year since 1943 (at most – some years the award has not been given at all), in recognition of “outstanding knowledge and great versatility in the application of science to the fields of materials science and engineering, as well as exceptional ability in the diagnosis and solution of diversified materials problems.”

When asked what advice he has for other faculty on sustaining a long academic career, Conrad says, “You must really enjoy what you are doing or find what you really enjoy.”

Beyond his love of science, Conrad has drawn inspiration from mentors and colleagues over the years. “I had a number of teachers and professors who stimulated and fostered my interest in science. Dr. Jay Narayan [John C. Fan Distinguished Chair Professor of MSE] has provided encouragement to me to remain active in research. Finally, I would like to paraphrase General MacArthur when he gave his retirement address: ‘Old professors never retire; they just research away.’”

With over 400 papers to his credit, it can be safely said that Conrad has made his mark. Even better, it can also be said that he’s not done yet. I’m looking forward to seeing his next one.