Mars Fontana (1910-1988) was former professor of Metallurgical Engineering and department chairman and director of the Corrosion Center. While others were developing the science of corrosion, he applied this basic knowledge to solve critical industry and infrastructure problems. Fontana wrote an important textbook on corrosion, was a revered lecturer, and an esteemed leader who was instrumental in creating new laboratories and recruiting faculty. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering, National Research Council’s Committee on Ocean Engineering and an honorary member of the American Society for Metals.
Mars Fontana’s legacy is commemorated by the new Phase I of the Biomedical and Materials Engineering (BMEX) Complex, which carries his name –The Mars G. Fontana Laboratories. The complex will be the home to the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at Ohio State.