The Academy of Dental Materials (ADM) sponsors several programs aimed at encouraging students to conduct research in dental materials and hopefully to pursue careers in academics. One of these programs is the George C. Paffenbarger Student Research Award, which has been continuously awarded by the ADM since 1986.

George C Paffenbarger (1902-1985) graduated from Ohio State University in 1924. He was associated with his father in the practice of dentistry in McArthur,Ohio from 1924-25. Following this, he was an extern at the Palama Settlement Dental Clinic, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1925-26; instructor in the College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, 1927-28. George C. Paffenbarger then joined the Research Unit at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, where he worked from 1929 to 1974. Now known as the ADA Foundation’s Paffenbarger Research Center (PRC), it was renamed in his honor in 1985. The high-speed contra-angle handpiece, the panoramic x-ray technique, and composite restorative materials were developed at the National Bureau of Standards while Dr. Paffenbarger was director of the ADA Research Unit. He was an internationally recognized authority on dental materials and a pioneer in the development of specifications and standards for testing materials. He was an author of over 170 publications, developer of specifications for the American Dental Association, lecturer, and teacher. His contributions have revolutionized the concepts, ideas, and practices of dental materials in the military and civilian sectors. He received the IADR Wilmer Souder Distinguished Scientist Award in 1958. He was the first recipient of the ADA’s scientific fellowship and he received honorary D.Sc. degrees from Georgetown University, Ohio State University, and the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He held both an honorary M.D.Sc. degree (1959) and a D.Sc. degree (1961) from Nihon University (Tokyo), the latter having been awarded at the time he was a visiting professor in dentistry at Nihon University. In 1972, he received the International Miller Prize from the President of Mexico, which is awarded only every five years and established in 1908 by the Federation Dentaire Internationale. Although he retired officially in 1968, he continued to work at the laboratory until 1984.

The award was created in 1987 to recognize annually the best paper in the field of Dental Materials. The idea was first muted in 1986 by Lyle Zardiackas, who was the first corporate liaison of the ADM EC and he was very active raising money for the ADM. Zack first brought up the idea of the award and helped with all the planning and knew George Paffenbarger very well. The plaque was designed by Lyle Zardiackas and Grayson W. (Bill) Marshall.

At the 1989 ADM Board meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, it was decided that the Paffenbarger award would be based either on a Journal or Transactions, and the first winner would be identified by December, 1989. However, in the The ADM Newsletter of the Fall of 1991 it was reported: “In the future, the Paffenbarger Award will be given at the ADM annual meeting on the basis of student presentations. The next award following this procedure was presented to Alaa M. El-Araby in 1993.” This is how things remained until 2007 when the Paffenbarger Award was extended to offer a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize. The value of the award has increased substantially over the years and currently stands at:

1st Prize: $1750+ free registration the following year.

2nd Prize: $1250+ free registration the following year.

3rd Prize: $1000+ free registration the following year.

To be eligible for consideration for the Paffenbarger award you must be a student member of the Academy of Dental Materials who does not hold a Ph.D. at the time you apply for the award. You will also be required to attend the Academy of Dental Materials Annual Meeting and give a short presentation of your project.  At the time you submit your abstract, you will be required to indicate if you wish to be considered for the Paffenbarger Award.  (There will be an award application checkbox)  Please note that previous Paffenbarger Award winners are not eligible for this competition.

Awards will be presented at the Awards Ceremony, and include free registration to attend the meeting next year.