A journey through STLE: From volunteer to chairman

By Dr. Azzedine Dadouche | TLT Volunteer's Voice April 2025

My time with STLE has reinforced my commitment to advancing tribology and fostering collaboration within the STLE community.
Photo of a man wearing sunglasses and a bike helmet
Becoming the chairman of the STLE Annual Meeting Program Committee (AMPC) marks the culmination of years of dedicated volunteer work with STLE—much like a professional journey. My involvement began in 2005 when I attended my first Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, where I presented a technical paper on hydrodynamic thrust bearings. That same year, I joined STLE and became a member of the Fluid Film Bearings Technical Committee. Engaging in the committee’s technical meetings fueled my passion for involvement, eventually leading to my appointment as paper solicitation chair in 2010-2011.

From there, I continued to grow within the committee, serving as secretary, vice chair and ultimately, committee chair. This experience proved invaluable, both professionally and personally, allowing me to connect with leading experts in fluid film bearing technology, including globally renowned figures in the field. The STLE Annual Meeting became a key event on my professional calendar—a place to exchange ideas, foster lasting relationships and explore tribology’s role in addressing future industrial challenges.

After passing on the committee chair role in 2013, I remained an active member while contributing to other scientific initiatives within STLE. In 2016, I joined the editorial board of Tribology Transactions, STLE’s prestigious journal. Eager to expand my contributions, I expressed interest in joining the AMPC. In 2018, this aspiration became a reality when my candidacy, put forward by former chair Professor Michel Fillon, was approved by the committee members and STLE president.

Being part of the AMPC has been a remarkable opportunity to:
1. Collaborate with distinguished experts from academia and industry
2. Address technical challenges within different committees
3. Recommend the merging of committees or the creation of new ones
4. Review and finalize the conference program
5. Discuss and approve special event proposals for the annual meetings

The AMPC consists of seven members from both academia and industry. Each member oversees three to four technical committees, acting as a liaison between them and the AMPC. The committee gathers in person once a year during the annual meeting on Wednesday night.

The meeting focuses on reassigning committee responsibilities, discussing the merging or creation of new committees and adopting format changes for future conferences. For instance, former chair Professor Ashlie Martini proposed reducing technical presentation times to 20 minutes to shorten technical days and allow for more networking and social engagement among attendees. The AMPC and STLE’s Board of Directors approved the proposal, which was successfully implemented during STLE’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Minneapolis. While there was some initial disagreement among attendees, the AMPC decided to continue with the new format to encourage concise, impactful presentations while creating more opportunities for networking and business development.

As conference chair, I am also responsible for identifying and proposing a keynote speaker—subject to approval by the AMPC and STLE’s Executive Committee. Additionally, finding a new AMPC member is another key responsibility. Any STLE member with an outstanding track record of volunteer work at the committee level can apply, but final approval rests with the AMPC and endorsement by the STLE president.

The committee also meets virtually several times throughout the fall and winter to assess technical submissions and review/approve the conference schedule—skillfully drafted by the fantastic Merle and Gen Hedland on STLE’s staff. These meetings also allow members to discuss new event proposals. A great example is the approval and launch of The Art of Tribology, an initiative designed to showcase the beauty of tribology—set to be a special feature at the 2025 STLE Annual Meeting, May 18-22, in Atlanta, Ga. Stay tuned!

Photo of a woman presenting an award to a smiling man with glasses while another man watches
Dr. Azzedine Dadouche was elevated to STLE Fellow at the 2024 STLE Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minn.

One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of my role has been securing the right keynote speaker and ensuring their commitment. The support of AMPC members, along with the invaluable assistance from Merle, Gen and STLE’s Executive Director Rebecca Lintow, was crucial in successfully achieving this task.

Reflecting on this journey, I find it both fulfilling and inspiring. It has reinforced my commitment to advancing tribology and fostering collaboration within the STLE community. I am grateful for the experiences, connections and contributions I’ve been privileged to make—and I look forward to continuing this work in the years ahead. I hope to see you at the Annual Meeting this year. For more information, visit www.stle.org/annualmeeting.

Dr. Azzedine Dadouche is a senior research officer at the National Research Council Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and is chairman of the STLE Annual Meeting Program Committee. You can reach him at Azzedine.Dadouche@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.