Faith Morrison Receives Rare Honor from Society of Rheology
October 13, was a big evening for Faith Morrison, much bigger than she had anticipated. The professor of chemical engineering at Michigan Technological University was in Baltimore for the 87th Meeting of the Society of Rheology. At the annual awards banquet Morrison was to be inducted in the inaugural class of Fellows of the Society. She had been informed of the accolade earlier in the year.
The surprise came later in the evening when she was presented with a an extremely rare honor, the Distinguished Service Award of the Society of Rheology. Morrison was just the tenth recipient of the award, recognized for her exceptional service to the Society of Rheology.
Presenting her with the Award was past president of the SOR, Greg McKenna, Horn Professor and John R. Bradford Chair in Engineering at Texas Tech University. McKenna says it's important to note Morrison's service to the Society goes far beyond having served as it's president from 2009-11.
"She made major contributions by leading a constitutional reform committee that modernized the Society Constitution and Rules. She is also continuing font of wisdom for the society because of her vast experience during her years on such service committees as the Membership Committee, the Executive Committee and her continuing service on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Physics."
McKenna says that Morrison, who is currently the editor of the Rheology Bulletin, "without a doubt, has a long record of distinguished service to the Society of Rheology and continues to play important roles in the society's continuing efforts to service the science of deformation and flow of matter.
Morrison says she was “surprised” when during the banquet, she was presented with the rare distinction. “I am honored to have been recognized in this way. The Society of Rheology is a wonderful professional home that has given me much more than I have given to the Society. I look forward to many more years of service.”
Rheology is the study of deformation and flow. In her article “What is Rheology Anyway,” for the website The Industrial Physicist, Morrison writes, “Rheology is the study of the flow of materials that behave in an interesting or unusual manner. Oil and water flow in familiar, normal ways, whereas mayonnaise, peanut butter, chocolate, bread dough and Silly Putty flow in complex and unusual ways.”
Morrison has served as the Society of Rheology designee to the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Physics since 2013. The AIP is a consortium of physical science societies dedicated to the advancement of physical sciences. As a board member, Morrison is active in AIP’s governance and serves as chair of the audit committee.
Louis Lanzerotti, a research professor of Physics in the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, is chair of the AIP’s Board of Directors. He calls Morrison a pleasure to work with.
“As the representative of the Society of Rheology, Professor Morrison continues to contribute important service on the re-constituted Board of Directors of the American Institute of Physics. It has been a professional pleasure for me to work with her in her elected role as Chair of the Audit Committee, where she has devoted much time and significant insights into ensuring the fiscal strength of the AIP.”
S. Komar Kawatra, chair of Michigan Tech’s Chemical Engineering Department, says Morrison’s recognition is good for the department and the University.
“We congratulate Faith Morrision on this honor,” Kawatra says.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
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