多产教授

一个人可以改变世界：或者至少世界的制造

1943年，富兰克林·罗斯福（Franklin D.六十八年后，他仍然每天都出现在实验室，发表一流的论文，并试图找出构成我们生活的世界的材料的物理和机械特性。当时我想成为他我长大。

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.

“他对科学的热情以及他的敏锐程度给我留下了深刻的印象，” MSE的科比钢铁杰出教授卡尔·科赫（Carl Koch）说。“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 ceramicsactually improves.

在2010年的另一篇论文中，康拉德（Conrad）表明，使用电场可以使变形陶瓷材料变得更加容易。对于一个从技术上从18年前从北卡罗来纳州退休的人来说，这还不错。

康拉德为什么继续工作？康拉德说：“主要的驱动力是我对科学的强烈兴趣。”“此外，继续进行研究为我的生活提供了每日目标。而且，我喜欢与学生一起工作。”

Conrad hasworked 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消息& Observerin 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.”

当被问及他对其他教师关于维持漫长的学术职业的建议时，康拉德说：“您必须真正享受自己在做的事情或找到自己真正喜欢的东西。”

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.’”

有超过400篇论文值得称赞，可以肯定地说康拉德（Conrad）已留下了自己的印记。更好的是，也可以说他还没有完成。我期待看到他的下一个。