Ceramics Renaissance: Opportunities for Innovation in a Changing World

Ricardo Castro is the Department Chair and Professor of the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at Lehigh University. Before this appointment, Castro was at University of California-Davis for over 14 years, where he also was the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies. Castro holds a Ph.D. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has joined Lehigh in earlier in 2023 when he founded the Lehigh Nanoceramics Thermochemistry Laboratory (LNTL). Castro is the author of over 130 peer reviewed papers and has edited a book dedicated to recent aspects of electric field assisted processes. He is a Principal Editor of the Journal of Materials Research, and the Editor in Chief of the IJCES, new open access journal of the American Ceramic Society. Castro has been awarded several awards along his career, including the DOE Career award and the NSF Career Award, the Robert L. Coble Award by the American Ceramic Society, the Global Young Investigator Award by the Engineering Ceramic Division in ACerS, and the Stig Sunner Award by the Calorimetry Conference. 

Dr. Ricardo Castro
Lehigh University, USA

Resumo

Ceramic materials are experiencing a resurgence as key enablers of technological progress across diverse industries. In this plenary talk, we will explore the pivotal role of ceramics in shaping next-generation innovations, highlighting their transformative potential in an era of rapid scientific and industrial evolution. From sustainable manufacturing to advanced energy storage and high-performance applications, this lecture will examine emerging opportunities within the field, shedding light on recent breakthroughs in ceramic compositions and processings. We will discuss the role of oxides, carbides, nitrides, and borides on latest technological applications and their integration into advanced manufacturing techniques. By examining key U.S. technological trends and the materials-specific challenges ahead, this session will provide insights into how researchers, engineers, and industry leaders can harness ceramic materials to drive innovation in a changing world.