Join us for the ceremony and celebration for Steven J. Skerlos being named the J. Reid and Polly Anderson Professor of Manufacturing. Steven J. Skerlos is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Skerlos pioneered the application of supercritical CO2 coolants for machining, boosting production rates in manufacturing while cutting energy, costs, hazardous chemicals and waste.  His entrepreneurial ventures, including three U-M spinouts, underscore his commitment to moving research to practice. With his professorship and being the faculty director at the Center for Socially Engaged Engineering & Design, he prepares future engineers to integrate sustainability and entrepreneurship into advanced technology.This event will feature remarks on Skerlos' career from colleagues and peers, as well as a talk by Skerlos on "Transforming Waste into Scalable Manufacturing Solutions."Transforming Waste into Scalable Manufacturing SolutionsAbstract:Manufacturing waste—spent chemistries, harmful emissions, and organic residues—is typically managed as an unavoidable cost. This talk reframes these streams as design inputs for high-performance manufacturing, guided by socially engaged engineering and systems-level design.
I describe research that began with membrane-based formulation and recycling of metalworking fluids, then evolved through factory-floor collaboration into the discovery of a supercritical CO₂ machining process that reduces cost, eliminates worker hazards, and improves manufacturing performance. In real-world production, the approach has achieved material removal rates up to five times faster than previously possible, with threefold improvement in tool life, and substantial reductions in environmental impact: approximately 70 percent lower global warming potential and 90 percent less water consumption. The approach has been adopted in factories across more than a dozen countries, recognized with the EPA Green Chemistry Award and Solar Impulse Efficient Solution certification, and continues to inform a growing body of academic research.
Parallel work on microbial systems in industrial and municipal contexts has led to the development of novel detection methods and the application of recirculating dynamic membranes to convert food waste and sewage sludge into renewable natural gas and fuels. Across these projects, a consistent translation framework has emerged: engage end users early, optimize for the metrics industry values, and develop fundamental sociotechnical understanding alongside manufacturable hardware to shorten the path from laboratory to implementation.
This lecture marks my acceptance of the J. Reid and Polly Anderson Professorship, with gratitude to those who have held it before me and deep appreciation for the collaborators and students whose contributions made this work possible.