Matthew Weisenberger, Ph.D., associate director of the Carbon Materials Research Group at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER), has been named the American Carbon Society’s 2024 Graffin Lecturer.  

The American Carbon Society (ACS) annually selects a North American lecturer who has made distinguished contributions to carbon science and engineering. The lecture series recognizes carbon research and development excellence in honor of George D. Graffin, a pioneer in the natural graphite industry. The lecture series is sponsored by Asbury Carbons.

“Dr. Weisenberger is most deserving of this honor,” said Rodney Andrews, CAER director. “He and his team have built one of North America’s leading carbon materials research and development organizations and are the forefront of discovery and innovation in this space. I am thrilled that Dr. Weisenberger had the opportunity to share this work with the scientific community over this past year.”

Weisenberger is one of the world’s leading carbon fiber and carbon materials researchers, leads CAER’s Carbon Materials Research Group and is an adjunct assistant professor of materials engineering in the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.

The title of his Graffin Lecture is “Carbon Fiber: Past, Present, and Future.” As part of the lecture series, Weisenberger gave lectures at the following locations throughout the year: Montana State University, University of Utah, Ohio University, The City College of New York and Asbury Carbons Inc.

“It was an incredible honor to be named as this year’s Graffin Lecturer,” said Weisenberger. “Many of the researchers I admire and have inspired my work have previously received this recognition. To have my name listed alongside theirs is both humbling and a professional highlight.”

You can view Weisenberger’s lecture here: https://youtu.be/B0rYzfGPr9o.