The Nelson W. Taylor Lecture in Materials Science and Engineering honors the memory of Professor Nelson W. Taylor (1869–1965) who was head of Penn State’s Department of Ceramics from 1933–1943. During his tenure as department head, Dr. Taylor refined the ceramics undergraduate curriculum, strengthened the graduate program, expanded ties with industry, and was able to attract important scientists (for example Woldemar A. Weyl) to the faculty. He is recognized as the individual most responsible for establishing the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences as a major center for ceramics research. The Nelson W. Taylor Lecture Series was established in 1969, and has consistently attracted scientists of international prominence.
Nelson W. Taylor Awardees
* Nobel Laureate
| 2025 Sir Harry Bhadeshia 2024 Sossina M. Haile 2023 Arun Varshneya 2022 Michael Rubinstein 2020 Cato T. Laurencin 2019 Giulia Galli 2018 Ramamoorthy Ramesh 2017 Jennifer Lewis 2016 Shuji Nakamura* 2015 Thomas Kelly 2013 P. M. Ajayan 2012 Subra Suresh 2010 Chad A. Mirkin 2009 Tobin J. Marks 2008 John B. Goodenough* 2007 Timothy P. Lodge 2006 Lawrence L. Kazmerski 2005 Marvin L. Cohen | 2004 Robert S. Langer 2003 Charles M. Lieber 2001 George Craford 1999 John Price Hirth 1998 Alan G. MacDiarmid* 1997 Larry L. Hench 1995 Thomas W. Eagar 1994 Gerhard Wagner 1993 Richard E. Smalley* 1991 Richard Balzhiser 1990 Mats Hillert 1989 Sir Samual Edwards 1988 Makoto Kikuchi 1987 David W. Johnson, Jr. 1986 Paul B. Weisz 1985 Julian Szekely | 1984 Pierre-Gilles de Gennes* 1983 William O. Baker 1982 W. Dave Kingery 1981 Irving Wender 1980 Morris Cohen 1979 Turner Alfrey, Jr. 1978 Edward Teller 1977 Elburt E. Osborn 1976 John A. Duffie 1975 Cyril Smith 1974 Herman Mark 1973 Linus Pauling* 1972 Gene Haertling 1971 Clarence Zener 1970 John Saylor 1970 Horst Scholze |