New FIERF professor continues Mines’ forging goals

Kester Clarke, a Metallurgical and Materials Engineering assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines, recently took on the Forging Industry Educational Research Foundation (FIERF) Professorship, saying he intends to further the department’s ongoing dedication to innovative research for the forging industry.

He has also said that he plans to push for diversity and student recruitment.

“Having students go through that class is really important to expose them to the industry and show them the cool things that you can do in that area,” Clarke said. “Often, when students see a 200-ton piece of metal at 1,000 degrees being deformed, they get pretty excited about it.”

Chester Van Tyne is retiring after 25 years spent as the FIERF professor.

“Professor Van Tyne’s contributions to the forging community have spanned 34 years,” Angus Rockett, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering department head, said. “More than that, Professor Van Tyne has been an extraordinary contributor to the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering for his entire career and will be sorely missed.”

Clarke attended Wayne State University for his bachelors in materials science and engineering and then Colorado School of Mines for his masters and doctorate in metallurgical engineering.