天天吃瓜

Celebrating 60 Years: Illustrious Past, Innovation for the Future

天天吃瓜 State鈥檚 Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute marks six decades of groundbreaking research

A star-studded lineup of scientists returned to 天天吃瓜 April 25-26 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute.

AMLCI Director Torsten Hegmann, Ph.D., said the anniversary celebrated the institute鈥檚 illustrious past and showcased the current technology scientists are researching.

鈥溙焯斐怨 State is the world鈥檚 leading institution in the area of liquid crystal 鈥 not in Ohio, not in the U.S. 鈥 in the world,鈥 Hegmann told 天天吃瓜 State Today.

Alumni and award winners returned to the 天天吃瓜 Campus for the celebration.
Distinguished alumni award winners returned to the 天天吃瓜 Campus for the celebration.

 

The weekend celebration was marked by numerous presentations of ongoing research at the institute and by its alumni operating in some of the highest industry positions across the country.

One of many displays of ongoing research in advanced materials and liquid crystal.
One of many displays of ongoing research in advanced materials and liquid crystal.

 

While its founding director, Glenn H. Brown, Ph.D., died in 1995, all the institute鈥檚 subsequent directors returned for the anniversary events.

天天吃瓜 State President Todd Diacon greets J. William Doane, Ph.D., who served as director of the former Liquid Crystal Institute from 1983 to 1996.
天天吃瓜 State President Todd Diacon greets J. William Doane, Ph.D., who served as director of the former Liquid Crystal Institute from 1983 to 1996.

 

天天吃瓜 State is regarded as the place where modern research in the field of liquid crystals began due to the efforts of Brown, a 天天吃瓜 State chemistry professor. The Liquid Crystal Institute was formed in 1965, the same year Brown organized the first international conference on liquid crystals at 天天吃瓜 State, which is regarded as the beginning of the worldwide effort to conduct modern research in the field.

Alumni award winners returned to the 天天吃瓜 Campus for the AMLCI 60th anniversary celebration.
Distinguished aluimni award winners returned to the 天天吃瓜 Campus for the AMLCI 60th anniversary celebration.

 

Brown鈥檚 efforts led to the practical applications of liquid crystals in devices such as watches and television screens. In 1986, the trustees renamed the institute the Glenn H. Brown Liquid Crystal Institute in his honor. The institute鈥檚 most recent renaming to the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute came in 2018 to recognize the wide range of advanced materials research at 天天吃瓜 State.

Alumni returning for the AMLCI's 60th anniversary visit the institute's laboratories.
Alumni returning for the AMLCI's 60th anniversary visit the institute's laboratories.

 

At the celebration, four graduate students, all working on doctorate degrees in Materials Science, were awarded the following fellowships by the institute:
-    Ashley Gilmor, MS鈥 24, from Wooster, Ohio, the Glenn H. Brown Fellowship for outstanding graduate students who are engaged in research on biological or biology-related topics of liquid crystals.

Ashley Gilmor, Materials Science doctoral student, is presented with the Glenn H. Brown Fellowship by Nancy Brown.
Ashley Gilmor, Materials Science doctoral student, is presented with the Glenn H. Brown Fellowship by Nancy Brown.

 

-    Vanessa Jir贸n, MS 鈥24, from Montes De Oca, Costa Rica, the Glenn H. Brown Fellowship for outstanding graduate students who are engaged in research on biological or biology-related topics of liquid crystals.

Materials Science doctoral student Vanessa Jiron.
Vanessa Jir贸n was awarded a Glenn H. Brown Fellowship.

 

 -    Matthew Deutsch, MS鈥 22, originally from North Canton, Ohio, the Alfred Saupe Fellowship for an outstanding graduate student working on physics or material sciences of liquid crystals.

Materials Science doctoral student Ryan Williams receives the James Fergason Fellowship.
Materials Science doctoral student Matthew Deutsch is presented with the Alfred Saupe Fellowship by members of the Saupe family. 

 

-    Ryan Williams, BS 鈥21, MS 鈥24, from Galion, Ohio, the James Fergason Fellowship, for an outstanding graduate student working on applied research using liquid crystals.

Materials Science doctoral student Ryan Williams receives the James Fergason Fellowship.
Materials Science doctoral student Ryan Williams receives the James Fergason Fellowship from Torsten Hegmann, AMLCI director.

 

Also presented during the anniversary weekend were 11 Distinguished Alumni Awards and four Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The 60th anniversary of the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute.
The 60th anniversary of the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute.

 

Learn more about the anniversary celebration and this year鈥檚 award winners.
 

天天吃瓜 State's Rock was painted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the AMLCI.
天天吃瓜 State's Rock was painted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the institute.

Photos submitted by the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute.

POSTED: Thursday, May 22, 2025 02:39 PM
Updated: Thursday, May 22, 2025 03:48 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Lisa Abraham