- In Memoriam - Dr. Paul C. K. Lam (1947-2009) Ohio Space Grant Consortium Director (2007-2009)
Dr. Paul Chi-King Lam, Ph.D., 62, passed away May 24, 2009 after fighting a courageous battle with kidney disease. Dr. Lam was born in Nanking, China, and had resided in Cuyahoga Falls the past 34 years, moving here from West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Lam was a true scholar and valued all aspects of the educational enterprise including research, teaching and service.
His academic journey began at Purdue University, where he received a B.S. in Engineering Science in 1969. His graduate education next took him to the University of Illinois where he obtained an M.S. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in 1970. After Illinois, he attended The University of Akron, where he received a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1978. After brief sojourns into the corporate world at Pratt Whitney, Babcock & Wilcox, and General Motors, Dr. Lam began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at The University of Akron in 1980. He was to serve Akron with all his amazing devotion to students and research for 29 years. Most recently, he served with distinction as Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies and Diversity Programs, and as a Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering. As a faculty member and Dean, Dr. Lam worked with many students and he truly loved watching students grow into active professionals.
There are far too many students whose lives he influenced to ever list them all. This included students at every level, from Ph.D. to grade school children in the workshops he delivered at local schools. Dr. Lam was an advisor for ASME and participated in over 57 Ph.D. or Master's level committees. A phrase that could be used repeatedly to describe Dr. Lam "is too numerous to mention." This expression certainly describes his professional service and activities. Some of the technical societies in which he held membership include American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), American Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), National Association of Minority Engineering Program Administrators (NAMEPA), and National Advancement Council of Minorities in Engineering (NACME). Honor society memberships included Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Tau, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Pi Sigma. He served on committees for many of these organizations, including the Ohio Space Grant Consortium K-12 Education and Pipeline Committee, and also reviewed for journals and federal agencies.
His contributions as Director of the Ohio Space Grant Consortium impacted the lives of many students and helped them achieve success in their education and careers. Dr. Lam also served as the OSGC’s Campus Representative from the University of Akron. As the OSGC Director, Dr. Lam made numerous contributions to aerospace education in the State of Ohio and has also helped countless individuals which included: student scholarship and fellowship awards and internship opportunities at NASA Centers and with industry. He was also instrumental in assisting teachers and faculty members to become better educators and researchers through sponsorships of education workshops and grants for research and innovative teaching.  He also had a special passion for working with K-12 students and teachers to promote STEM education and started the Summer Bridge Internship Program for high students at the university and with local industry.
He was a role model for all whom he came in contact with, and everyone responded to his softspoken manner.  He was so proud of his students’ accomplishments and never once took any credit for that success. Dr. Lam was an educator for the people –- beginning with elementary education to higher education –- his contributions resulted in a better planet for us all.
Dr. Lam set high standards for his students and for himself. He was a tireless worker, who also found time to pursue his passion for knowledge. His accomplishments included a patent and over 120 journal, conference, and book publications. .As further recognition of the high quality of Dr. Lam's work, he received over 50 grants or donations of funds as a source of support for his research and his minority programs. His areas of research interest and publication included structural dynamics, rehabilitation and adaptive devices for cerebral palsy patients, finite element analysis of structures, fatigue and fracture evaluation of material behavior, minority engineering education, pre-college math-science-technology programs, and retention models of engineering education.
On behalf of the entire Space Grant community, Dr. Lam will be sorely missed – he truly personifies the phrase, “one in a million!” We became better individuals for knowing you.  Godspeed, our friend and colleague!

The Ohio Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) is part of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program funded through Congress and administered by NASA Headquarters. There are 52 consortia, one in each state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) was selected in 1989 as the lead institution, along with 12 member Ohio universities, to form the Ohio Space Grant Consortium. Currently the OSGC is composed of 17 universities, 6 community colleges, the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) (NASA GRC Privacy Statement) , and the Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL).

Vision
The Vision of the Ohio Space Grant Consortium is to lead in the creation of an environment in the State of Ohio that will encourage significant educational and research contributions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while stimulating an understanding and appreciation for aeronautics and space.

Mission
OSGC's mission is to utilize our Ohio network of scientists, engineers, and educators to enable the development of a diverse workforce of future scientists, engineers, mathematicians, technology professionals, and educators. Increase significantly the national capability in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Consortium awards scholarships and fellowships for college students, mini-grants for K-12 activities, and seed grants in the areas of precollege outreach, higher education, research infrastructure, and university-industry collaborations.

Objectives

• Sustain a network of Ohio universities, colleges and community colleges with interests and capabilities in aeronautics, space, and related fields.
• Promote a strong science, engineering, mathematics, and technology educational base from elementary through university levels.
• Encourage cooperative programs among universities, aerospace industry, and federal, state, and local governments.
• Support interdisciplinary training, research, and public service programs related to aerospace.
• Recruit and train professionals, especially women and underrepresented minorities, for careers in aerospace science, engineering, mathematics and technology fields.

The Space Grant's primary emphases in Ohio are student scholarships and fellowships on the university level; research infrastructure, and higher education activities related to aerospace for university faculty; student programs with an aerospace-science-math component for K-12 teachers; and public outreach programs. Relationships among GRC and AFRL personnel with university faculty, students, and K-12 teachers are strongly encouraged.

Goals

• Sustain the Space Grant Scholarship and Fellowship Program and work to significantly increase the program size each year.
• Engage Space Grant students in technical thesis and project research and discovery.
• Sustain diversity in Space Grant leadership, programs, and activities.

NASA/Other Internship Opportunities for OSGC Students!
Click here for more information.