Welcome to STLE Detroit!
Chairman’s Greeting
Greetings, and welcome to the Detroit Section of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers!
I know I am not the only scientist who was not familiar with the word “tribology” until later in my career, even though the concept of overcoming friction is fundamental to human life. Our ancestors used wheels and animal-derived oils to overcome friction thousands of years ago. The Greek-derived term “tribology”, however, only appeared more recently (1966). Tribology in essence is the study of friction, wear and lubrication; it is the science of interacting surfaces in relative motion.
Tribology gradually turned into an independent and highly interdisciplinary branch of science with many important and inspiring subtopics. Some amount of friction is necessary to provide traction to move an object, but excessive friction causes material and energy loss. Tribology as a discipline is focused on the development of durable and energy-efficient systems, controlling friction to maximize lifetime and minimize wear.
Today, Detroit – the motor city of America – is at the forefront of creating a connected, autonomous, shared, and sustainable electric future. Emerging technologies not only challenge status quo but also bring immense opportunities to all of us. Tribology plays one of the most important roles to create a sustainable and electrifying future.
The board of the STLE Detroit Section is here to help our members build strong connections, share knowledge, and broaden horizons. We strive to help all of us stay connected with and tuned in to the outstanding research and learnings in the field of tribology.
As a member of the Detroit Section of STLE, I am asking you to be an ambassador of tribology and STLE to those around you, whenever there is an opportunity. We always want to welcome new members to our society and inspire the next generation of tribologists.
I look forward to serving you this year as Chair of the Detroit Section of STLE. The Section Board will continue working as a team to offer virtual and in-person programs to bring you the latest developments in tribology.
I thank the outgoing board for their contributions and the strong foundation they have built for the STLE Detroit section.
Please join us in helping the world move more smoothly!
Respectfully yours,
Melissa Mushrush, PhD
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