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Dr. Jack G. Simon, FASMPresident, Technology Access Inc.Aiken, S.C.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce ASM Interna-tionals 2013-2014 president, Professor Comondore(Ravi) Ravindran. I have known Ravi for 32 years, so Ihave a lot to tell you about our new leader.

PersonalMy last visit to Ryerson University, Toronto, was

in September 2013. Once again I was struck by thelove and devotion everyone at Ryerson has for Ravi. It

begins with the person who sells him a cup ofcoffee and continues with his students,dean, and university president. This is whatASM International can expect from its nextleader. Ravi is not a showy person, but willlisten effectively, help create a vision, andthen develop a plan to execute it. He is botha consensus builder and a strong motivator.

I also know that Ravi would tell you thatthe honor he is most proud of is being hus-band to his wife Shanti and father to histhree children, Nikila, Vikram, and Shobita.Nikila is a gastroenterologist, Vikram a pul-monologist, and Shobita a lawyer. I havewatched Ravi and Shanti raise their childrenand it is no surprise that he has motivatedthem to excel and be successful.

Education and trainingBorn in India, Ravi received his early train-

ing in materials science at the University ofMadras and the Indian Institute of Scienceand earned his masters and doctorate fromthe University of Manitoba. Ravi has not for-gotten his early roots and has done much tohelp advance ASM International in India,Canada, America, Europe, and Asia.

In 1973, Ravi began his career as a prod-uct and process development metallurgistwith Manitoba Steel Rolling Mills. Early on,he became chief engineer and in 1982 was

promoted to chief metallurgist. In 1985, he becamegroup vice president of Galtaco Automotive Castingsand Stampings Corp. with major foundries in Ontarioand a large stamping plant in Michigan. In 1989, hejoined the faculty of Ryerson University. Ravi brings 16years of industry experience and 25 years of academicexperience to his role as ASM president.

Service to ASM and the materials communityRavi and I first met at the ASM International Ma-

terials Week technical conferences held at numerousvenues in the U.S. and Canada. We found we had muchin common as I had just taken over the job of divisionalmetallurgist of the Buick Motor Division of GeneralMotors after serving for several years as chief metallur-gist for Chevrolets metal casting plants. Ravi invited meto Ryerson to discuss his vision to form a Center forNear-Net Shape Processing of Materials.

One can look back today and congratulate Ravion the success of this center in advancing researchon lightweight metals processing. The center firstbegan research in lost foam metal casting of nodulariron, then in casting of thin wall aluminum, and isnow investigating magnesium alloys. What manypeople may not know is that Ryerson had little re-search going on when Ravi was hired. Today, the uni-versity thrives due to the external research itconducts. Ravi had the vision and used his uniqueabilities as a consensus builder to get approval for hiscenter. In addition, he has developed many interna-tional partnerships and has been able to attract dis-tinguished visitors and support several foreignstudents earning advanced degrees.

ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES JANUARY 2014

If you want a job done,engage Ravi and it

will be done right andwith a lot of

enthusiasm.

Ravi Ravindran, ASM International's2013-2014 president.

2013-2014 President of ASM International

C. (Ravi) Ravindran

ExcellenceRyerson University awarded Ravi the 2012 Chancellors Award of Distinction for sustained teaching and educational

leadership, the universitys top award. Previously, he was awarded the University Distinguished Scholar Award for re-search excellence in 1995. Ravi also served as president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering during 2007-2008and was co-general chair of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences in 2009.He has won numerous awards, including the 2013 CIM-MetSoc Research Excellence Award, and his research centerreceived the AFS Outstanding Organization Award for Excellence in Magnesium Research in 2009.

As a Fellow of many societies including ASM, CAE, CIM, INAE, AAAS, and Engineers Canada, Ravi has shared his re-search by presenting technical papers at major international conferences. When I visit ASM Canadian chapters, theyrefer to him as "Mr. ASM of Canada." ASM has also honored Ravi with the Allan Ray Putnam Award in 2006, the M. BrianIves ASM Canada Council Lectureship in 2004, and the MacDonald Young Award in 1995.

Pictured leftto right,ShobitaRavindran,Dr. NikilaRavindran,Ravi, Mrs.Shanti Ravindran,and Dr.VikramComondore.

I have visited Ravi several times and have observed him closelyfor more than 30 years. My first impression was that of a humble,sincere man who got things done. He has extraordinary personalskills and is always positive, supportive, considerate, and upbeat,and is a good listener as well. He does not hesitate to encouragepeople to look in different dimensions for the overall benefit of thecommunity. If you want a job done, engage Ravi and it will be doneright and with a lot of enthusiasm.

As an example, Al Romig and I were forming ASM MaterialsCamps throughout the U.S. and asked for Ravis help to establishone in Canada. Ravi jumped right in and formed the first CanadianMaterials Camp and served as its chairman. With his leadership,our camp programs have now grown throughout Canada and Indiaas well. I had the same experience while reviving the Alpha SigmaMu International Honor Society for Materials Science and Engi-neering. We were international in name only, had declined as an or-ganization, and were on the verge of disbanding. I called on Raviand he formed an Alpha Sigma Mu Chapter at Ryerson and I wasprivileged to be present when we inducted the first student mem-bers. Alpha Sigma Mu is now thriving under Dr. Fred Schmidtsleadership, but it took Ravi to get Canada involved.

Ravis passion is in teaching materials science and engineer-ing. He engages his students every day and builds complexideas from fundamentals step-by-step, explaining concepts andrelationships and also sharing his industrial experience. Thispassion and real world industry knowledge will help Ravi leadASM International in the coming year and his enthusiasm willbe contagious.

VisionRavi brings a unique combination of senior management ex-

perience in industry and leadership in research and teaching in ac-ademia. He is committed to using e-technology for quality anddelivery of services to our members and customers. He believesthat ASM must ensure currency and relevancy in content, strate-gic updating of information and delivery systems, and sound finan-cial management. He is committed to exceptional member serviceand values volunteers as pillars of our society. He feels that almosteverything we offer is due to our volunteers, with the trustees,management, and staff as enablers.

With a dramatic decline in membership reflecting the trend inprofessional societies in general, Ravi is committed to exceeding

the aspirations of members. He proposes to establish two types ofmembershipsa traditional membership and an electronic mem-bership for those who prefer electronic networking, free webinars,and web-based downloads onto computers or devices. He thinks ofour chapters as individual marketplaces, each with its own techni-cal focus and distinct from one region to another.

Ravi feels that ASM needs to establish and fortify a strong po-sition as the gateway, keystone, and clearinghouse for materials in-formation. Indeed, he is committed to making our products readilyaccessible according to the latest speed-of-life standards. He is alsodedicated to the idea of creating a key portal system to enable on-line links and access to government standards and sister societiesand to expanding ASMs materials information resources and on-line databases to include new advances and technologies.

For Ravi, one priority dear to his heart is developing studentsas future members and leaders of ASM. For the past 25 years, engi-neering students have been his extended family. He has nurturedstudent participation on the Board and encouraged them to activelyparticipate in ASM Materials Camps. He proposes the creation ofa Materials Camp Alumni Portal, allowing alums to remain con-nected with peer groups as they emerge as ASM members. Ravi be-lieves that chapters can also take this up at the grassroots levelthrough science fairs and a Materials Day where volunteers pro-mote the importance of materials to society. He also proposes moreactive roles for the Foundation, chapters, and the Alpha Sigma MuHonor Society in enabling internships, co-op placements, and jobswith direct mutual access for employees and students in a materi-als opportunities e-platform.

Ravi is delighted that the 2013 MS&T mega-conference in Mon-treal reinforced ASMs leadership in joint programming with sisterand affiliate societies in delivering new and advanced develop-ments to larger audiences. He proposes that besides large confer-ences, ASM consider periodic programming with related societiessuch as ASME and ASCE to deliver programs that transgressboundaries and espouse commonalities of knowledge in materialsscience and engineering.

We are fortunate to have Ravi at the helm of ASM Internationalduring revolutionary changes in information technology and contin-ued global economic upheavals. He will represent all ASM membersworldwide with the same effectiveness he has demonstrated as a fa-ther, husband, teacher, researcher, and leader. Let us congratulateRavi and join him as he moves forward in his vision for ASM.

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Ravi and Detroit Chapter chair SusanHartfield-Wunsch celebrate ASMs 100th anniversary.

Maxwell Kellogg of Cal Poly San Luis Obisporeceives a $2500 scholarship check from (left to

right) Chuck Daugherty and Dick Berryman, ofthe Los Angeles Chapter, and Ravi.

Ravi is dedicated to the ideaof a key portal system to

enable online links and accessto government standards and

sister societies, and to expanding ASMs materials information resources and

online databases.

ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES JANUARY 2014