Lucien Veleva, Ph.D., research professor in the applied physics department at the Center for Investigation and Advanced Study (CINVESTAV), National Polytechnic Institute, in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, has received the Francis LaQue Memorial Award from ASTM International. Veleva was honored for her outstanding contribution to the field of corrosion science and engineering and for exemplary technical and leadership expertise.

Established in 1988, the LaQue Award is presented by ASTM International Committee G01 on Corrosion of Metals in recognition of outstanding contributions to the committee and to the field of corrosion testing and evaluation.

In addition to Committee G01, Veleva participates on and contributes to 15 other ASTM technical committees, including those on steel, coatings, paint, water, air quality, nondestructive testing, surface analysis, declarable substances and weathering and durability. She has been a member of ASTM International since 1996.

A graduate of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences where she received her Ph.D. in chemistry and electrochemistry, Veleva has been on the faculty at the National Polytechnic Institute since 1994 as a research professor. Prior to that she was head of the National Corrosion Laboratory in Sofia, Bulgaria, and head of the Atmospheric Corrosion Section at the International Research Group on Corrosion and Tropicalization at the Cuban Academy of Science. She also holds an undergraduate degree in electrochemistry and corrosion from the University of Chemical Technology of Sofia, Bulgaria, and received an honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) from the Autonomous University of Baja California in 2011.

In addition to ASTM International, Veleva is a member of the Electrochemical Society, the International Society of Electrochemistry and NACE International - the Corrosion Society, and an active member and expert on the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 156 on Corrosion of Metals and Alloys.

ASTM PR Contact: Erin K. Brennan, Phone: 610-832-9602; ebrennan@astm.org

Release #9332