Professor Rustum Roy: In Memoriam

Abstract

Professor Rustum Roy, great champion of interdisciplinary materials research, passed away on 26 August 2010. This is, indeed, very sad news. He will be missed by the world-wide materials community. Born on 3 July 1924 in Ranchi, India, he first came to The Pennsylvania State University in 1946 to work on his doctorate in ceramics. He obtained his Ph.D.in ceramics from the university in 1948. He had obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) in 1942 and an M.Sc. in Physical Chemistry in 1944, both from Patna University, India.He became a naturalised US citizen in 1961. He was associated with The Pennsylvania State University for about 64 years as a graduate student and faculty member. He received the Evan Pugh Chair Professorship in 1981, the highest honour at The Pennsylvania State University. He was the Founder of the Materials Research Laboratory and served as its first Director from 1962–1985. He also served as the first Director of the Science,Technology and Society (STS)Program from1984–1990. He was associated with The Arizona State University as a Distinguished Professor in the Materials Program and was associated with The University of Arizona as a Visiting Professor of Medicine.