The seed for the Rheology Research Center was planted when Professor Arthur S. Lodge came to Madison on a visiting appointment from Manchester, England in 1965. Lodge's rheological interest provided a focal point for researchers from the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Engineering Mechanics. 
When he returned on a permanent basis in 1968, UW-Madison established the world's first Rheology Research Center. Lodge chaired its Executive Committee until his retirement in 1991. The Center's four charter members are Professors Bird, Ferry,
Johnson and Lodge. The Center's governance and membership histories
are listed elsewhere.
A long tradition of rheological research had been established at the
University of Wisconsin before foundation of the RRC. In fact, the
precursor to the RRC was the Randall Street Rheologists Club (RSRC),
which met informally on Fridays. So our RRC tradition of Friday lunches
with rheologists dates back to the early 1950s.
Four members of the center have been awarded the Bingham Medal of The Society of Rheology for their distinguished contributions to the field: Professors Ferry (1953), Lodge (1971), Bird (1974) and Curtiss (1987). Professor Lodge was also awarded the Gold Medal of the British Society of Rheology (1983). Professor Ferry served as president of The Society of Rheology in 1962-1963 and the center hosted the Annual Meetings of The Society of Rheology in 1961, 1977 and 1999.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 07-Mar-2001 23:35:59 CST
