Iowa State’s Center for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE) is part of a program that was recently honored by the Technology Transfer Society.

The Justin Morril Award was given to the National Science Foundation’s Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/U CRC) in technology transfer.

“A number of centers were honored,” said R. Bruce Thompson, director of CNDE. “The Center consists of 25 different industrial companies who are sponsors, and what we’ve been doing is playing an important role in the support of industry, both in Iowa and nationally.”

Each year, this award honors an organization that has made outstanding contributions to the theory and practices of technology transfer that are widely used by others and that has an exemplary record of transfer technology.

The Technology Transfer Society is a national organization of public- and private-sector technology transfer professionals, according to a press release.

Thompson said it was gratifying to see The Justin Morril Award come full circle.

“Morril was the reason a university like Iowa State came into being in the first place, so it’s interesting that the award has now come back around to Iowa State,” Thompson said. “Practically, the award means an increase in the likelihood of getting financial support and being viewed favorably.”

The National Science Foundation initiated the I/U CRC in the early 1980s to bring together university resources with industries of common research needs. CNDE was established as the 11th of more than 50 centers that exist today.

“It was formed in 1984, and new ones are being added each year,” Thompson said. “So while it’s an award for many centers, it’s especially gratifying for us at CNDE, since we were some of the earlier members of this group.”

Nondestructive evaluation makes possible the inspection of a structure or product in a non-evasive manner. Thompson said ISU’s CNDE is considered a leader in NDE technology and education.

Thompson said he is excited about the award.

“Technology transfer in a very big thing today, and we’re pleased to play a role in that,” he said.