Vol. 13, No. 1

TNT · July 2015 · 1

The American Society forNondestructive Testing

www.asnt.org

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IntroductionAs of 9 June, ASNT member MarkStowers had driven 18 757 km (11 655 miles). But this has been notypical road trip. Stowers, the founder and director of Crossroads Institute inOklahoma City, Oklahoma, has embarkedon a seven month journey across thecountry (and possibly beyond) to spreadthe word of nondestructive testing (NDT).On the website of the self-described“NDT’er” the mission reads: “These fewshort months will be dedicated to all theunsung heroes of NDT that keep us frompotential catastrophic events. Loss of life,damage to the environment, anddestruction of property are never far fromthe minds of these important individuals.Without their careful attention to detail,one shudders to think of the possibilities.”

With the support of his local OKCSection, Stowers’s trip began on 6 April in his hometown of Oklahoma City, and will conclude on 26 October at the2015 ASNT Annual Conference in SaltLake City, Utah. Scheduled stops along theway include visits to local ASNT sectionmeetings and the ASNT InternationalService Center, as well as open houses atNDT facilities and presentations at topicalconferences.

InspirationMany manufacturers, technicians,academicians, and researchers arepassionate about NDT and getting theword out about a field that many in thegeneral public are not familiar with. Few,though, have taken this passion a stepfurther by literally bringing NDT to themasses. When asked what inspired thisgrand undertaking, Stowers said: “Thereare many things that have influenced me inmy NDT career; however, a few reallymade me stop and think.

“I started as a ‘hand’ (laborer/trainee) ata company that performed inspections oftubular goods and other items on rig sitesin rural Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. Ireally did not know very much at first, butI was in good physical shape and eager tolearn. I enjoyed the camaraderie, the scenictrips to remote locations, the tackling ofseemingly impossible jobs in the best andworst of weather, and the discovery ofhidden discontinuities and defects.

“Though, never far from the mind, therewas the real possibility of a catastrophicincident occurring should we not performour duties adequately. As I learned moreabout NDT, I started to realize how manyways and in how many industries thatNDT was employed. I was shocked. How

NDT Awareness Campaign

From NDT Technician, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp: 1–5.Copyright © 2015 The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc.

was it possible that I had never heard ofnondestructive testing? The thought of all those individuals, across the globe,performing such critical tasks truly awedme.”

He went on to comment, “Theimportance of the work that NDT’ersperform each day inspired me to dedicatemy life to trying to help wherever able.

“I started by trying to pass along what Ihad learned to those with whom I workedand who would someday replace me. Istudied for my ASNT NDT Level III (MT)while living in Colorado and working inOklahoma. There were times when I wouldbe gone for seven to ten days and home fortwo to three days. I spent a good portion ofmy time on the road between Houston,Oklahoma City, and Peyton. I often foundmyself in the position of explaining what Idid for a living. Most people that I ran acrossdid not know what NDT was.”

Thus, an idea took hold. Stowerscontinued: “I decided that I needed to findother NDT professionals. Through ASNTconferences, I began to meet fellowNDT’ers. At first, I only attended theeducational presentations. Eventually, I wasguided to the committee meetings. Ilearned, and continue to learn, a great dealby attending ASNT conferences. The staffand attendees were equally helpful. Thehelpfulness of all involved renewed myvigor to help. As ASNT is a volunteerorganization, I began volunteering. Ibecame active in the committee meetingsthat I attended, reviewed technicalpublications within my method, andhelped to form the ASNT OKC Section.

“I had started Crossroads Institute, anNDT training and consulting business inOklahoma City, in an attempt to helpothers get the best possible NDT educationfor the critical tasks ahead of them. Soon, Icame face to face with the reality that manyinspection companies were activelyinspecting even though they were notqualified and certified to do so. This tookmy breath away and caused me to redoublemy efforts. I worked diligently to help these

inspection companies, both small and large,understand the importance of qualificationand certification. I offered a complimentaryASNT membership to students and invitedeveryone to attend the local Section meetings.I spoke at local colleges and tech schools aboutNDT. I volunteered to chair the ASNT OKCSection, MT/PT Committee, and StudentInterests Committee.”

Still, Stowers felt like he could do more.“Thankfully, I am now in a position

within my career to be able to dedicate mytime and efforts to making as many peopleaware of NDT as possible.”

In response to what he hoped to achieve,Stowers replied, “I hope to let the nextgeneration of NDT’ers know that there is a noble profession available that provides acritical service while allowing them to earna very comfortable income. Furthermore, I hope to raise the awareness of theimportance of NDT as well as where to go to find out more about NDT.”

PlanningPlanning for a trip of any length can be time consuming and stressful, butcoordinating a seven month journey withnothing more than a truck/trailer (Figure 1)

and list of scheduled stops requires extraattention to detail, to say the least.

“There are many aspects of planning atrip like this,” said Stowers. “Each piece ofequipment must be chosen carefully forusefulness and space requirements. Helpmust be enlisted for coordination andlogistics. Availability and location of visitsmust be carefully studied. Above all, onemust realize that no matter what one doesto prepare, there will be unforeseenobstacles to overcome along the way.”

The ExhibitWhat exactly goes into a mobile NDTdemonstration trailer (Figure 2)? Stowersexplained, “The trailer is set up to providegeneral information about NDT throughdigital media, to provide an introduction toweb resources for more specific informationabout NDT, and to demonstrate NDT viamagnetic particle testing (MT).”

The following list gives a generaloverview of the trailer’s capabilities:� Smart TV

A smart TV plays NDT videos, examplesof NDT flaws, and an “Introduction toNDT” presentation. The screen can bemirrored via onboard smartphone and

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Figure 1. Truck and trailer.

Photo credit: David Blosser

tablet to help further explain whenspecific questions are posed and explored;the screen is also mirrored for remotevideo conferences with notable NDT’erswhen available.

� ComputersTwo dual touchscreen laptops are set upfor the use of those visiting to exploreNDT.

� ProjectorsThere are two projectors onboard forNDT presentations at small and largeevents. One projector is conventionalwhile the other is a wireless pocket sizedprojector that doubles as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

� Magnetic Particle Testing EquipmentThanks to the sponsorship of Magnaflux,the onboard MT equipment has beenupgraded to better demonstrate NDT inaction. The demonstrations aim to showhow, as one method of NDT, MT is usedto find hidden flaws.

� CamerasThree wireless GoPro cameras areonboard to help viewing of practicaldemonstrations, broadcast events, andallow attendees to record their thoughtsand stories.

� Reading MaterialsThanks to ASNT, the trailer is alsostocked with hard copy and digitalinformation about NDT for attendees totake with them.

� Extra AmenitiesFor convenience, the trailer is equippedwith a coffee pot, a refrigerator full ofwater bottles, and an onboard restroom.

The Road So FarAt the time of his interview, Stowers was lessthan a month into his journey, but alreadyhe had made a number of stops.

“So far, I have attended the Miami ValleySection (West Chester, Ohio), ChicagoSection (Elmhurst, Illinois) (Figure 3a),OKC Section (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma),and St. Louis Section (Maryland Heights,Missouri) (Figure 3b). I also visited ASNT(Columbus, Ohio) twice for advice andguidance.”

Events are coordinated in advance andentail opportunities to network and shareknowledge.

“At the section meetings, thus far, I haveintroduced myself, let the section know

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Figure 2. Mark Stowers demonstrates the trailer’s capabilities and gadgetry.

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about the NDT Awareness Campaign, and offered to make the truck and traileravailable for NDT outreach within theirrespective areas,” said Stowers. “At eachmeeting that I attend, I infallibly meetfascinating and helpful individuals. Everyperson has a different story with thecommon bond of NDT.”

He added, “Along with learning from theconversations held at the meetings, I learnthrough the technical presentations.”

People Along the WayIn his mission statement, Stowers speaks ofthe “unsung heroes of NDT,” many ofwhom he has already had the chance tomeet, who come from a broad spectrum ofindustries and experience levels.

“I have met a diverse assortment of NDT’ers,” began Stowers. “Thetechnician that started as an intern whilein high school, the student enrolled in the local college’s NDT program, thebeginning technician who has learned one method and has a hunger to learnanother, the NDT instructor with thechallenging task of training our nextgeneration of NDT’ers, and thetechnician that just became an ASNTNDT Level III with all the responsibilitiesthat the designation entails. I have mettechnicians who work within aerospace,manufacturing, energy, research,equipment supply, and so on.”

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Figure 3. Section meeting visits: (a) Chicago Section; and (b) St. Louis Section.

(a)

(b)

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Student OutreachA major component of the NDT AwarenessCampaign is student outreach. Across allendeavors students are the future, but in afield like NDT where the current job forceis aging, it is especially important to appealto younger generations to fill in the gaps aspositions become available and advancingtechnologies necessitate new breeds ofpractitioner. As part of his efforts, Stowershopes to reach out to students, especiallythose involved with science, technology,engineering, and mathematics programs.

“At each section visited, an offer is madeto coordinate to speak about NDT at localhigh schools, tech schools, colleges,universities, and any other suggestedvenue,” said Stowers.

The Road AheadBy the time this issue of The NDTTechnician comes out, Stowers will behalfway through his trip, but it seemsthere is still a lot to do on the road ahead.

Stowers concluded by saying, “I amlooking forward to meeting fellowNDT’ers, hearing their stories, and learningfrom them. I am looking forward to thefamiliar expressions of disbelief followed byinterest on the face of someone introducedto NDT for the first time. I am lookingforward presenting at an educationalsession at ICPIIT [the InternationalChemical and Petroleum IndustryInspection Technology conference] in June.I am looking forward to the ASNT AnnualConference in October where I will be ableto personally thank those that encouragedme to go forward with the NDT AwarenessCampaign. I am looking forward to aformidable but scenic trip.”

Follow Stowers’s journey through thetravel journal blog on his website,www.ndtaware.com, or through socialmedia on Instagram (ndtaware), Twitter@ndtaware, Facebook, and Google Plus.h

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSPhotos provided by Mark Stowers.