International Pyrotechnics Society

Last updated
International Pyrotechnics Society
Founded1980
TypeProfessional Organization
OriginsBiennial Pyrotechnic Seminars held since 1968
Area served
Worldwide
MethodConferences, Workshops, Publications
Members275+
Key people
Dr. Ken. J. Smit (President)
Website www.intpyrosoc.org

The International Pyrotechnics Society (IPS) is the professional society for the field of pyrotechnics. The IPS was officially founded in May 1980.

Contents

Introduction

Apart from homogeneous Energetic Materials such as High Explosives and Propellants, those materials constituted from separate fuel and oxidizer particles are called pyrolants, or more commonly, Pyrotechnics. The International Pyrotechnics Society (IPS) offers membership to those who work with or have an interest in energetic materials especially pyrotechnics.

History

In the 1960s some of these specialists attended meetings to share experiences, to present their work, their research and to meet new people. These meetings started as "the Colorado meetings", organized by the late Dr. Robert M. Blunt (1916-1995), and this later was formalized into what is currently known as the International Pyrotechnic Seminars.

The International Pyrotechnics Society [1] was officially formed in May 1980. [2] However, The International Pyrotechnics Society can claim that its roots go back to 1968 when the First International Pyrotechnics Seminar was held at Estes Park Colorado, USA. [3] It was the Steering Committee of the Sixth International Pyrotechnics Seminar who officially formed the International Pyrotechnics Society. The Society has continued to sanction International Pyrotechnics Seminars. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] These have normally been held in the United States every other year and other countries including Australia, China, France, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom during the intervening years. Over the years, the membership of the Society has grown to approximately 275 people in 30 countries.

Purposes of this Society

Seminars and Workshops

The IPS sponsors or sanctions seminars on topics in the field of energetic materials research, development, technology and applications on an annual basis. In even years, seminars are held in USA and in the uneven years, the seminars are held outside the USA. Meetings are sometimes jointly organized with similar organizations and institutes such as the French Association of Pyrotechnic. [10] or Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT). [11]

Since 2004, a number of workshops on the topic of Pyrotechnic Combustion have been held immediately prior to the International Pyrotechnic Seminars. These one day workshops that are organized independently of the main seminar have featured extended presentations by invited specialists on pyrotechnic combustion. [12]

Promoting Young Scientists

The IPS aims to help young scientists to develop their career in this field of work. For each Seminar a bursary can be awarded to assist young pyrotechnicians to attend and present their work at International Seminars sponsored by the Society by contributing to their travel costs. The Bursary is known as the Frank Carver Bursary and is administrated by a Bursary Committee under the auspices of the Society. [13]

Publication

The official publication of the IPS is the Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics journal published bimonthly by Wiley-VCH-publisher in Weinheim/Germany.

List of officials

Elected IPS Presidents since 1980
#NameCountryDuration
1Dr. Robert Matteson BluntFlag of the United States.svg  United States 1980 – 1984
2Dr. Allen J. TulisFlag of the United States.svg  United States 1984 – 1986
3Dr. David DillehayFlag of the United States.svg  United States 1986 – 1988
4Dr. Bernard E. DoudaFlag of the United States.svg  United States 1988 – 1990
5Dr. David AndersonFlag of the United States.svg  United States 1990 – 1992
6Jan HanssonFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1992 – 1994
7Leo SaulnierFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1994 – 1996
8Dr. Nigel DaviesFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1996 – 1998
9Alain FauconnierFlag of France.svg  France 1998 – 2000
10Guy HendrickxFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2000 – 2002
11Dr. Tony CardellFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2002 – 2004
12Dr. Bill HubbleFlag of the United States.svg  United States 2004 – 2006
13Al MungerFlag of the United States.svg  United States 2006 – 2008
14Rutger WebbFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2008 – 2010
15Dr. Tracy A. VineFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2010 – 2012
16 Dr. Ernst-Christian Koch Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2012 – 2016
15Dr. Trevor T. GriffithsFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2016 – 2018
16Dr. Jesse J. SabatiniFlag of the United States.svg  United States 2018 – 2022
17Dr. Ken J. SmitFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2022 – 2024

References