InspectTech: The Evident NDT Podcast

In this episode of InspectTech, Michelle Wright welcomes archaeologist and Yale University research faculty member, Dr. Ellery Frahm. Dr. Frahm has conducted and published archaeological research on four continents, spanning nearly half a million years of human history, and he has an impressive 20+ years of X-ray spectrometry experience. He and Michelle deep dive into his application of portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to gather archaeological data, some of which has been published in the journal Science. Listen in to hear their fascinating conversation. -- Dr. Ellery Frahm is a research faculty member and an archaeological scientist at Yale University. He has conducted and published archaeological research on four continents, spanning nearly half a million years of human history. He also has more than 20 years of X-ray spectrometry experience, and he started using portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) as an analytical tool in archaeology in 2006. His research has been covered by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Discover Magazine, The Economist, National Geographic, Science News, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. His portable XRF data are also the first to be published in the journal Science. He studied physics and anthropology at Grinnell College, and he completed his doctorate in Anthropology with an emphasis on Archaeology at the University of Minnesota. During graduate school, he also managed the University of Minnesota’s Electron Microprobe Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility for X-ray spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. As a Marie Curie Experienced Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield in England, his postdoctoral project, Portable XRF Applications in Archaeology, played a central role in the project New Archaeological Research Network for Integrating Approaches to Ancient Material Studies, or NARNIA for short, which had a budget of over €4.6 million.

In this episode, Emilie chats with Neal Couture, the executive director of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), about ASNT’s strategic plan for 2022–2026. As executive director, he develops the strategic plan, manages the day-to-day operations, and leads the professional staff. -- Neal Couture is the executive director of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT). He serves as a member of the ASNT Board of Directors, ASNT Foundation Board of Trustees, and ASNT India Private Limited Board of Directors. Since joining ASNT in 2019, Neal has successfully led the development of ASNT’s strategic plan for 2022ￚ2026, navigated the uncertainties of COVID-19, and transitioned ASNT to a fully remote workplace, all while managing day-to-day operations and leading the professional staff. He serves on ASNT’s Executive Committee, Business and Finance Committee, Leadership Development Committee, Ethics Oversight Committee, and Operations Committee, and he chairs the Advocacy Committee. Neal has more than 20 years’ experience as a leader in the nonprofit industry and is an expert in association management. A Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE), he serves on the Board of Directors for the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) and as a member of ASAE’s CAE Exam Committee and Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council. He is the author of “Modeling the Way: Ethical Leadership,” a chapter in ASAE’s Professional Practices in Association Management, Fourth Edition. Neal holds a Master of Education in human development from George Washington University. His previous positions include associate dean of finance and administration at Boston College, director of the Government Procurement Law and Business Programs at George Washington University Law School, and executive director of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA). Before joining the nonprofit sector, Neal was a business manager in the aerospace and defense industry. He is a veteran of the US Air Force and the California Air National Guard.

Category: XRF In this episode, Michelle Wright welcomes Dr. David Weindorf, Vice President for Research and Innovation at Central Michigan University. Listen in as they discuss Dr. Weindorf’s experience using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) in soil science, environmental quality assessment, and transitional soil taxonomy. --- Dr. David C. Weindorf serves as Vice President for Research and Innovation at Central Michigan University (CMU). He holds a Bachelor of Science in range management, Master of Science in soil science (with a geochemistry minor), and a PhD in agronomy from Texas Tech University (TTU). Dr. Weindorf is a Fellow and Presidential Award winner of the Soil Science Society of America, having served as chair of the Pedology section (S-5) in 2016. He is a licensed Texas Professional Geoscientist. He serves on the editorial boards of Pedosphere and Geoderma, as well as on the Board of Trustees for the West and Mid-Michigan Chapter of the Fulbright Association. As a scientist and Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Weindorf has published more than 200 peer-reviewed research papers in top international journals relevant to soil, water, and compost science, environmental quality assessment, and international soil taxonomy. Dr. Weindorf’s research team provided emergency response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and Gold King Mine spill, the latter of which he was called upon to offer testimony to the US Senate. Holder of four patents, Dr. Weindorf is widely considered an international authority in proximal sensor characterization of soil, having authored multiple methods papers for successful proximal sensor use.

Category: NDT In this episode, Emilie sits down for a much-anticipated chat with Paul Holloway. You may know Paul from his educational yet entertaining YouTube channel covering a wide range of NDT topics. Now, hear about behind the scenes. Paul talks to Emilie about the fun he has making his informative videos, his origins in the field of nondestructive testing, and his vision for the future of NDT, including fostering skills development and promoting mentorship. -- Paul Holloway, President of Holloway NDT & Engineering Inc., is a Professional Engineer and UT Level 3 based out of Ontario, Canada. His company provides advanced ultrasonic field services, training, and consulting. He has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and over 20 years of experience in ultrasonic testing. He holds numerous international patents and trademarks, including the PA-CAT technique and the ERVW block collaboration with PH Tool. He regularly publishes articles for industry journals and hosts a popular YouTube channel related to UT.

Category: XRF In this episode of InspectTech, host Michelle Wright welcomes Peter Faulkner, Evident’s Director of Market Development for Analytical Instruments, including all products featuring X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology. They discuss Peter’s vast experience in materials analysis and material quality control for the metals and mining industry. -- Peter Faulkner is the Director of Market Development for Analytical Instruments at Evident. He holds a bachelor’s degree in metallurgy from the University of Sheffield, UK, and is a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining. A metallurgist with many years of sales and market development experience, Peter worked within the metals and mining industries—including steel manufacturing, mining equipment, molten metal control sensors, and industrial gases—prior to joining Evident to help guide its X-ray fluorescence (XRF) product line.

Category: NDT In this episode, Emilie talks with Tim Kinsella, an experienced NDT engineer in the aerospace industry. Tim has provided NDT support of in-service Dassault Falcon jets in the Western Hemisphere for 19 years, as well as managed their Structures Engineering Group. He brings 30+ years of NDT engineering experience with General Dynamics, Hamilton Sundstrand, and Lockheed Martin. Emilie and Tim discuss the importance of critical thinking when finding NDT solutions to complex problems. -- Tim Kinsella has provided NDT support of in-service Dassault Falcon jets in the Western Hemisphere for 19 years, as well as managed their Structures Engineering Group. He brings 30+ years of NDT engineering experience with General Dynamics, Hamilton Sundstrand, and Lockheed Martin, where he provided direction on manufacturing and quality development efforts for low observable materials and structures, as well as assisted in the development of filmless radiography and field applications of shearography. Tim has published numerous technical papers and was an editor and contributing author for handbooks on aerospace NDT, radiographic testing, electromagnetic testing, and materials and processes. He holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Business Administration in engineering management from the University of Dallas. He attended the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Aircraft Accident Investigation course and the Radar Cross Section Reduction course at Georgia Tech.

Category: XRF In this episode of InspectTech, Michelle Wright welcomes Dr. Peter Martin, Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at the University of Bristol. They discuss Dr. Martin’s experience in nuclear energy and in analyzing materials with a variety of technologies— including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers—at projects in Chernobyl, Ukraine, the US, and Japan. -- After completing his undergraduate degree in geology at the University of Bristol, Dr. Peter Martin undertook a PhD in Physics. His doctoral research included a project examining the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident of March 2011, one of the worst ever nuclear accidents. During this multidimensional work, Peter used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's) equipped with novel radiation detection systems to explore the meter-scale contamination trends as well as cutting-edge materials science methodologies to examine the microscopic fallout material that was released into the surrounding environment. Following a stint working in the nuclear industry and after having gained expertise in radiation detection systems and materials science, Peter obtained a highly prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Research Fellowship in 2020. In this research, he works alongside other international experts in the field to develop novel sensory platforms for deployment across multiple applications. Dr Martin has established himself as an international expert in nuclear materials, radiation detection, reactor accident scenarios, and radiological release incidents arising from nuclear facilities. He is frequently invited to give talks on his areas of expertise around the world, and he has worked extensively with global media outlets to give expert commentary on topical issues across the nuclear sphere.

Category: NDT In this episode of InspectTech, Emilie’s guest is Theo Young, the founder of Refined Inspection Services, an Evident Training Member. Theo is a second-generation nondestructive testing (NDT) inspector, so he learned early on what NDT stood for and what it was all about. For Theo, NDT is not just a career, it’s instilled him with a mission: to teach the basic principles of NDT and make it accessible and affordable for anyone interested in making it their career. -- Refined Inspection Services was founded in 2018 by Theo Young with the objective of offering an NDT education to those who otherwise may not have the opportunity. Mr. Young began his NDT career in 2008, as a quality control technician for National Oilwell Varco. By 2015, Mr. Young had achieved numerous NDT certifications, as well as accredited certifications, such as the AWS Certified Welding Inspector and API 570 Pressure Piping Inspector. After working with many respected subject matter experts and leaders in NDT innovation, he was encouraged to obtain his ASNT Level III certifications, the highest certification level that an NDT professional can achieve. He now holds five ASNT Level III certifications. In 2019, after completing an instructor training program, he was offered an opportunity that was a dream come true: teaching alongside his mentors as an instructor for one of the most respected NDT schools in Texas. By opening Refined Inspection Services, Theo Young fulfilled a personal goal to increase access to NDT education. Through his business, he provides up-to-date NDT training to individuals, combining education and technology with practical experience to prepare them for a range of NDT certification levels.

Category: XRF In this episode of InspectTech, guest host Michelle Wright talks with Todd Houlahan, Director of International Mining at Evident. In this discussion, Todd shares his expertise on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing and its applications in the mining NDT industry. Listen in as Todd shares about challenges and opportunities he’s faced in the industry and his views on how XRF has evolved in the mining industry, from mineral exploration to the laboratory. Todd Houlahan graduated from the University of Newcastle, Australia in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in applied science (environmental) with a major in soils and hydrology. He then worked for 7 years as a contaminated land consultant in Australia and the UK with various companies before being introduced to handheld XRF in 2000 while remediating a Pb contaminated site in Sydney. From 2000–2004, he worked for a distributor of XRF analyzers in Australia and used handheld XRF as a consultant, a contractor, and in sales capacities on numerous geochem projects. From 2004–2008, Todd worked directly for a major XRF technology manufacturer and was integral in the mass introduction of modern X-ray tube-based units to the exploration and mining sector, supporting distributors and customers in the EMEA region. Since 2008, Todd has been the Director of International Mining at Evident and is now based out of Hertfordshire in the UK. For the past 22 years, he has dedicated his career to portable XRF (pXRF) applications in the minerals industry. His passion is best practice application of the technology, customer training, and unique and innovative pXRF applications.

Category: NDT Join the discussion as Emilie interviews Nikita Iliushkin and Alex Merk from Skygauge Robotics, a company leading the charge in the development of drone technology for nondestructive testing applications. Learn about the challenges and advantages of drone inspections, as well as what’s coming in terms of NDT drone technology. Nikita Iliushkin is the chief commercial officer of Skygauge Robotics. Since 2016, his team has reinvented how drones fly to expand the commercial applications of drones. Under his guidance, Skygauge focused on ultrasonic testing at height as the first use case of the technology. These inspections traditionally require workers to use high-risk methods such as ropes or scaffolding. He saw that with Skygauge technology these jobs could be performed exponentially faster and more safely because workers stay on the ground. He assembled an elite group of drone pilots, UT inspectors, and industrial clients to help bring the Skygauge drone to market. His discussions with these stakeholders have given him a comprehensive understanding of their needs, enabling safe implementation of this technology at industrial sites. Alex Merk is the head of sales at Skygauge Robotics. He’s spent twelve years in the NDT industry working for various NDT equipment manufacturers both domestically and internationally in sales and business development. His time in the industry has brought him in contact with every market sector around the globe and, in doing so, provided him with a unique perspective on developing customer-focused solutions. He has a passion for NDT and when he saw how Skygauge is revolutionizing the NDT industry, he jumped at the opportunity to join the dynamic and innovative team.