Education Sessions

Mostly free sessions that highlight the latest developments in welding education and training programs.

• WELDING EDUCATION CONFERENCE
• PLUMMER MEMORIAL EDUCATION LECTURE
• HIGHER EDUCATION WELDING UPDATE
• UPDATES ON AWS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
• TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF WELDING PROFESSIONALS FOR THE ENERGY INDUSTRY

Presented in conjunction with the National Center for Welding Education and Training (Weld-Ed), this conference is designed to bring together educators for professional development and networking opportunities. Weld-Ed’s focus is on the preparation of welders, welding technicians, and welding engineers to meet the needs of industry.

This paid conference will include presentations on topics such as workforce needs of the welding industry, recruitment tools for educators, welding education program highlights, curriculum overviews, virtual welding equipment and applications, distance learning and its place in the welding field, new technology applications, and interactive demonstrations.

Presenter: Professor Thomas W. Eagar

The Plummer Memorial Education Lecture Award has been established by the American Welding Society to recognize an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to welding education and training, and to recognize Fred L. Plummer’s service to the Society as President from 1952 to 1954 and Executive Director from 1957 to1969. The recipient of this award will deliver a lecture and receive this educational distinction.

This year’s presenter is Professor Thomas W. Eagar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has been as a professor at MIT since 1976 and served as the chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Department from 1995 to 2000. Although most of Prof. Eagar’s research involves welding and joining, an increasing amount of work involves other aspects of materials manufacturing and engineering systems. Examples of recent research include: fundamentals of transient liquid phase diffusion bonding, control of melting during GMAW, effects of welding fume on health of workers and stresses generated during joining of dissimilar materials.

Professor Eagar is a Fellow of AWS, ASM International, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering. He has been recognized for many AWS honors and awards including: the Comfort A. Adams Lecturer (1992), the Adams Memorial Membership Award (1979–1983), the Charles H. Jennings Memorial Medal (1984, 1992, 2004), the William Spraragen Award (1991, 1994), the Warren F. Savage Award (1991, 1996), the William Irrgang Award (1993), and the Silver Quill Award (2002).

 

Presenter: Professor R. Warke

Experience the new technology and delivery methods that higher education is using to advance our students to new heights. Professor R. Warke of LeTourneau University will explain how LeTourneau is preparing tomorrow’s workforce, today.

Presenters will give overviews of federal programs related to training and education of welding personnel.

1:00 - 1:50 PM
Session 1: National View of Perkins 4 Program
Dr. John Foster, CEO of NOCTI and Board Member of ASTS

2:00 – 2:50 PM
Session 2: Discussion on Perkins 4 Program
Dusty Heritage, Associate Dean, Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell

3:00 – 3:50 PM
Session 3: Status on NSF Grant for National Center of Excellence in Welding Training & Education
Ken Smith, Loraine Community College

Prominent speakers from various sectors of the energy industry will provide overviews of their successful training and education programs for welders and welding professionals.

9:00 –9:10 AM
Introductions and Opening Remarks

9:10 –9:50 AM
Session 1
John Mendoza, CPS Energy and AWS Vice-President

9:50 –10:20 AM
Session 2
Larry Zierker, INL

10:20 –11:00 AM
Session 3
Neal Chapman, Entergy and AWS District 6 Director