Tim and Steve talked with Professor Reg Rogers from University of Missouri in the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering department about his mentoring of students, his background, and the recent development of a new Masters program. Reg is a dedicated teacher and mentor, especially to students who face significant challenges in their college careers. Reg told us many inspiring stories about how he has helped students and how they paid him back with respect and appreciation. Reg also told us about how he puts student problems in perspective with his own story of his near death experience. Take a look as some of the links below to be able to get to know Reg a bit better.

Links:
https://honors.missouri.edu/news/2024/02/overcoming-obstacles-and-encouraging-others/

https://engineering.missouri.edu/2025/rogers-to-receive-distinguished-faculty-award/

https://chenected.aiche.org/2026/01/reginald-rogers-visibility-belonging-and-power-representation
https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-rogers-jr-3b70102/

You can find the YouTube version of the podcast here:
https://youtu.be/5FngXKKWXtg

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

Short Bio
Dr. Reginald E. Rogers, Jr. is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Missouri. His research interests are focused primarily on improved water and energy resources using novel nanomaterials. As an educator, Dr. Rogers has continuously integrated undergraduate students in his research efforts to broaden their perspectives on their potential roles on societal challenges as rising engineers. Dr. Rogers has been heavily engaged in educating and training deaf/hard-of-hearing (D/HH) and other underrepresented students in his research activities. Several publications and presentations have featured undergraduate students from underrepresented groups who collaborated on his research. He has given numerous presentations and published multiple articles on his research in addition to education papers. Dr. Rogers has been recognized for his teaching, research, and service efforts through numerous invited speaking engagements and awards. He has been invited to speak on the responsible development of nanotechnology at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Rogers is the inaugural recipient of the Mizzou Alumni Association Gold Standard Distinguished Faculty Award. He is also the inaugural recipient of the Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering Teaching Practice presented by the Education Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). In addition, Dr. Rogers is the recipient of the AIChE Minority Affairs Community Distinguished Service Award; the Joseph Cannon Award in Chemical Engineering, the Dr. Henry C. McBay Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Dr. Tyrone Mitchell Mentor on the Map Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers; the Dr. Janice A. Lumpkin Educator of the Year Award from the National Society of Black Engineers; and the American Chemical Society Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences.

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Tim and Steve talk with Jerry Bourne from Colorado School of Mines about his bladesmithing class in the Materials and Metallurgy department at Colorado School of Mines, and the award-winning TMS Bladesmithing Competition team from Mines. We discuss the importance of applied knowledge for motivating students to develop theoretical knowledge, and the challenges and rewards of delivering a high-enrollment lab project course every semester.

You can find more info about Jerry here:
https://metallurgy.mines.edu/project/bourne-gerald/

Jerry has a YouTube channel for his bladesmithing activities that you can find here:
https://www.youtube.com/@MinesBladesmithing

He also has an instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/mines_bladesmithing/

You can find the YouTube version of the podcast here:
https://youtu.be/oAQVJbfFNrs

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

Short bio:
Short bio:
Gerald Bourne grew up in a small town in eastern Connecticut before moving to Florida. As a non-traditional student, he earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from theUniversity of Florida. Following graduation, he joined the faculty at the University of Florida, where he spent five years developing undergraduate courses and laboratory experiences in materials engineering.
In 2011, Dr. Bourne joined the Colorado School of Mines. He currently serves as the Charles F. Fogarty Endowed Professor and Associate Department Head in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (MME). He has received numerous awards selected by the students at Mines and serves as the primary undergraduate advisor for the department. In addition to teaching and advising, he directs the Physical Metallurgy Laboratory, supporting instructional and research activities across the university.
Dr. Bourne created MTGN333: Introduction to Bladesmithing and has taught the course 18 times. The class has become one of the most sought-after electives at Mines and is oversubscribed every semester. Through this unique course, students apply the principles of metallurgy, heat treatment, and materials characterization while designing and crafting custom knives.
Dr. Bourne's primary professional interests are undergraduate engineering education, laboratory instruction, and hands-on learning. He has developed numerous laboratory courses, directs the Physical Metallurgy Laboratory, and created the nation's only engineering bladesmithing course that integrates metallurgy, heat treatment, and knife making. His educational outreach through the Mines Bladesmithing program has reached millions of viewers online while inspiring students to explore materials engineering.
His technical interests include materials characterization using optical and electron microscopy, focused ion beam microscopy, electron and X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, nanoindentation, and nanowear testing. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed journal publications.
Outside the university, Dr. Bourne enjoys spending time at his mountain home, restoring old cars in his garage, and attending Colorado School of Mines student events.

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Steve and Tim talk with Professor Liz Holm about teaching thermodynamics, life as a department chair, and the future of Materials Science and Engineering.

The YouTube video can be found here:
https://youtu.be/6ZHt4haqgJg

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).