Dr. Sara Hornby Delivers Award-Winning AIST Elliott Lecture at CIVS
On April 8, CIVS had the honor of hosting Dr. Sara Hornby for a Distinguished Speaker Seminar, attended by PNW and CIVS staff, students, and industry collaborators. The event drew an audience of approximately 150 people to hear Dr. Hornby’s informative and impactful lecture. Dr. Hornby, the 2024 recipient of the AIST John F. Elliott Lecture Award, delivered a presentation titled “The Clean Steel Revolution.” This lecturer is selected in recognition of distinguished contributions in chemical process metallurgy and materials chemistry to the iron and steel industry or related fields of study. Following the presentation, the seminar sparked lively discussions, highlighting the significance and relevance of Dr. Hornby’s insights in today’s evolving steel industry.
The clean steel revolution is the most exciting era in the steel industry since the advent of continuous casting. The steel industry is under pressure for contributing 7% to 9% of worldwide carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e) and, as steel will always be a part of our infrastructure, ways to mitigate these emissions must be found.
Sara Hornby, variously described as a trailblazer and an inspiration for ambitious women, has continually proven nothing is out of reach for women in engineering. The first woman to graduate from Sheffield Hallam University with a B.Sc. Hons. in metallurgy and a Ph.D. in industrial metallurgy, she spent her early career in the U.K. working for Firth Brown Tools Engineering and British Steel Corp. Her initial Canadian and U.S. Air Liquide roles, developing new technologies and bringing best available technologies to the metals industry (whilst managing multi-disciplinary, multi-location team members), coupled with other electric arc furnace steelmaking optimization positions (Tenova Goodfellow, Midrex, Linde, Intertech, TMS International), put her in good stead to set up her own company, Global Strategic Solutions Inc., which supplies expert consultancy and expert witness to the metals and related industries.
Dr. Hornby was very impressed with CIVS and the work being done to improve energy efficiency, environmental issues, and competitiveness in the steel industry. During her visit, CIVS staff and students showcased CIVS projects and technologies. “What fantastic tools PNW’s CIVS has – they allow “proof of the pudding” prior to the expansive and expensive pilots/demos. They have proven they can give confidence in solutions….” Read her full testimonial.
Dr. Hornby’s talk was an insightful overview of the many approaches to advanced steelmaking. From modernizations and improvements to existing technologies to fill the interim through advanced new processes that promise improved efficiency. Her analysis was a breath of fresh air about the challenges facing engineers as we undertake the transition to smarter and cleaner steel, but a reassuring overview of the many possible avenues we have to achieve the transition.
Sam Nielson, CIVS Research Engineer
The insight and perspective provided by Dr. Hornby's presentation not only added a refreshing touch of realism to the current challenges being faced by the steel industry, but also showed feasible milestones and intriguing solutions to reach the smarter and cleaner steel future we so desperately need.
