TMS Announces New Award for Materials Science Research

As a way to build on his everlasting impact on the electrochemical industry, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) Foundation has established the Vittorio de Nora Prize for Environmental Improvements in Metallurgical Industries through an endowment from the family of de Nora.

The award, offering cash prizes as high as $25,000, was announced Monday, February 16, 2009, at the start of the Aluminum Plenary Session at the TMS 2009 Annual Meeting & Exhibition in San Francisco. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding materials science research and development contributions to the reduction of environmental impacts, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, as applied in global metallurgical industries.

The Vittorio de Nora Prize is aimed at materials scientists and engineers under the age of 40 who have made research contributions to technologies that involve a global impact. It commences in 2010 and will be given as five annual awards with each, except the 2012 award, having a $20,000 cash prize. The 2012 prize will commemorate the centennial anniversary of the birth of de Nora.

That prize will be $25,000. “I am pleased that the de Nora family has chosen to partner with TMS to recognize Vittorio de Nora with a new award,” said TMS President Ray Peterson. “The award recognizes achievement in the area of materials science to reduce environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions from metallurgical industries. I look forward to the awarding of the prize in the years to come.”

Applications for the Vittorio de Nora Prize for Environmental Improvements in Metallurgical Industries can be obtained through the Professional Honors and Awards section of the TMS home page at www.tms.org. The application and supporting materials can be submitted electronically using the on-line nomination form. Details on the award’s description, requirements, and selection process can also be found in the Professional Honors and Awards section.

About Vittorio de Nora
de Nora was instrumental in the development of the bi-polar chlorine cell. He initiated and successfully developed and commercialized the coated titanium dimensionally stable anode used in today’s chlor-alkali industry. de Nora’s developments lead to the elimination of the polluting mercury cell technology and environmental improvement by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions arising from the carbon anodes they replaced. His companies built plants accounting for one-third of the world’s chlorine production. Over the past century, he devoted his research to eliminating serious pollution problems related to the use of carbon anodes and the improvements of the energy efficiency with more flexible designs for inert anodes enable in electrochemical cells.
About TMS
TMS is the professional organization encompassing the entire range of materials science and engineering, from minerals processing and primary metals production to basic research and the advanced application of materials. Included among its 9,500 professional and student members are metallurgical and materials engineers, scientists, researchers, educators, and administrators from six continents. The mission for TMS is to promote the global science and engineering professions concerned with minerals, metals, and materials.

For more information, visit http://www.tms.org or contact Francine Garrone, news editor, at 724-776-9000, ext. 224; e-mail fgarrone@tms.org.