Summary of Membership Benefits

1.Membership on the Steering Committee of the Center

Each Partner organization may place a representative on the Steering Committee of the Center. The Steering Committee meets at least four times a year at Texas A&M or other appropriate locations to review the program as a whole and to discuss results and directions of research. This meeting provides Steering Committee members not only an opportunity to influence the research at the Center, but also to hear how other companies view the critical research issues. Discussions in the Steering Committee meetings have led to a number of productive research projects and educational activities.

2.Facilitated Access to Pool of Skilled Graduate Students

Under the Center and related funding, Texas A&M supports graduate students working on M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in various fields related to process safety and risk management. In addition, postdoctoral research associates are expected to be involved. Recent statistics with other Centers at Texas A&M show that more than half of the graduates and a significant fraction of post-docs go to work for member firms. This is the largest pool of high quality graduate students trained in process safety and risk management technologies in the world. Organizations supporting the Center are encouraged to interact and discuss research problems with the students and to consider them for summer and permanent employment.

3.Facilitated Access to Faculty Experts in Areas Related to Process Safety and Risk Management Technology

Faculty working in the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center come from the departments of Chemical Engineering, Communications and Outreach, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Management Systems and Planning, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering and Safety Engineering, and Program Evaluation. They all have outstanding reputations as scientists and engineers, numerous publications, and expertise in areas critical to process safety and risk management. Through previous employment and consulting, they are also familiar with the industrial environment and industrial research. Supporting organizations have access to this pool of faculty for consultation and discussion of technical problems. Supporting organizations are encouraged to establish a close working relationship with faculty and staff of the Center, as well as make frequent visits to the Center to stay in close contact with the research. Center staff also make visits to supporting organizations.

4.Preprints of Research Reports Published by the Center.

Partner, sponsor, and advisor organizations are provided preprints of research reports originating in the Center. In addition, most of the faculty affiliated with the Center willingly share reports of related contract research funded directly by other sponsors with Member organizations, unless the other sponsor prohibits such distribution. Given the fact that many publications do not appear in print until more than a year after submission, supporting organizations are able to take advantage of new developments before they are generally known.

5.Annual Report

The Center publishes, for the exclusive use of its students, faculty, staff, and Partner/Sponsor/Advisor firms, Annual Report on process safety and risk management research and activities at Texas A&M University. The Annual Report includes detailed descriptions of progress in all projects supported by the Center as well as many projects supported by other sources. In addition to the annual report, the Center publishes periodically Research Highlights on process safety and risk management issues, technologies, and new research initiatives. The Research Highlights include brief but timely summaries, approximately two paragraphs in length, of new developments in each research project. Each summary includes the names and telephone numbers of the researchers involved, and members are encouraged to interact with them directly in areas of mutual interest. Research Highlights also includes a list of publications, a list of students completing degree requirements, and brief reports on other developments of interest.

6.Use of Computer Software Developed at the Center

Partner organizations are offered free use of computer software developed at the Center. Exception to this is when the software is developed specifically for a project and the contract prohibits the distribution or sale of the software.

7.Discounted Fees for Symposium, Continuing Education Courses, Publications, and Other Services

Supporting organizations are given discounted rates for symposium, continuing education courses, publications, and other services. The discounted rates are 40%, 20%, and 10% for Partners, Sponsors, and Advisors, respectively.

8.Library and Information Services

Center Library checkout privileges are available for all members.

9.Database Searches

Specific database searches of library reference material, equipment reliability database (under development), and incident database (under development) are available free of cost to Partners, and at discounted rates of 50% and 25%, respectively, to Sponsors and Advisors.

10.Symposium Registration

Partner, Sponsor, and Advisor organizations receive one complimentary registration for the Annual Symposium.

11.Ask the Expert

“Ask the Expert” privileges are available for all Partner, Sponsor, and Advisor organizations. “Ask the Expert” is an on-line form in the members area of the website, that when submitted, is received at a centralized location and then directed to the relevant expert for quick response via email.

12.Symposium Proceedings

Partner, Sponsor, and Advisor organizations are provided access to read-only versions of all Symposium proceedings. The Center believes providing the Proceedings, along with other Center publications, is a valuable information resource for its members.