Dr. Maria Appeaning is a Research Scientist in the 3M Corporate Research Materials Laboratory. Since joining 3M in 2006, Appeaning has worked on a range of 3M technologies with several 3M divisions and has multiple pending patents for her work. Examples include the synthesis of novel dental monomers with 3M’s Dental Health Care Division (3M ESPE) to developing antimicrobial coatings with 3M’s Medical Division. She is presently leading efforts to develop adhesive release materials technologies which has her working closely with both the Industrial Adhesives and Tape Division and Commercial Graphics Division.

In addition to participating in several special interest chapters of 3M’s Tech Forum, 3M’s global network of technical employees, Appeaning also serves as a volunteer and mentor in the 3M Science Training Encouragement Program (STEP), which recruits, supports, and trains promising high school students in the field of science. She is also an active participant in the 3M Visiting Wizards program.

Dr. Olester Benson is currently a Corporate Scientist in the 3M Corporate Research Process Laboratory. Since joining 3M in 1988, Benson has spent the majority of his career leading research efforts to develop environmentally friendly manufacturing process technologies using high-energy radiation. He has applied these technologies in the medical, safety, traffic control, energy, aerospace, home improvement, semiconductor processing, and electronic display industries. For his work, Benson has received 46 issued patents with 16 still pending.

Benson, a member of the Carlton Society, which honors outstanding technical employees at 3M, also serves as a volunteer and mentor in the 3M Science Training Encouragement Program (STEP), which recruits, supports, and trains promising high school students from underrepresented groups.

Dr. Kevin Eberman is a Product Development Specialist developing higher energy materials for batteries that power cellphones, computers and electric vehicles. Since starting at 3M in 1999, Eberman has developed cathode materials that are now an integral part of plug-in hybrids like the Chevy Volt; anode materials that are the foundation for the next big step-up in battery energy, and electrolyte materials that make these battery cells last longer.

During his time at 3M, Eberman has been dedicated to recruiting new employees from his alma mater, M.I.T. and mentoring new 3M Scientists.

Dr. Belma Erdogan-Haug is a Product Development Specialist for 3M's Renewable Energy Division. She currently leads the New Encapsulant Technologies Project in the Energy Generation Lab. After finishing her post-doctorate at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Erdogan-Haug started her 3M career in 2006 in the Corporate Research Materials Laboratory (CRML) as a Senior Research Scientist. Here she worked on multiple technologies including Pressure Sensitive Adhesives, Nanoparticles and Low Shrink Dental Materials that can be used in many areas throughout 3M.

Erdogan-Haug has also been very active in the 3M Tech Forum, 3M’s global network for technical employees. She has served as a Corporate Research Materials Laboratory senator for two years, was elected to chair the organization’s Polymer Chapter, and has been chairing the Academic Relations Committee for the last two years. Erdogan-Haug also serves as a volunteer tutor for students in St. Paul, Minn. area high schools and is actively involved in mentoring high school students through 3M Science Training Encouragement Program (STEP) and college students through Honoring Women Worldwide.

Dr. Benton Free is a product development specialist in the 3M Display and Graphics Business Laboratory Incubator and is responsible for developing and reducing to practice new to the world products and processes within his division. Starting in 2000 as an Analytical Chemist in the Measurement Group in 3M’s Engineering Systems Tech Center (ESTC), Free worked to develop on-line measurement techniques and chemical and biological sensor technologies.

Free moved to the Display and Graphics business in 2005 where he has worked on a diverse set of technologies including pen-based touch systems, optical films, reflective sheeting and optical coating, transparent soluble conductors and digital printing. Free has eight issued patents to date and more than 20 US patents pending.

Dr. Patrick Hager is a Corporate Scientist with 3M’s Automotive Aftermarket Division. Since joining 3M in 1987, Hager has held appointments in the Corporate Laboratory, Consumer & Office group and Industrial and Transportation group working in the areas of film process technology, adhesives and adhesive coating and customer inspired innovation. He has been instrumental in the invention and development of several key 3M technologies including 3M Command brand adhesives, simultaneous film orientation, surface structure and functionalization.

In addition to his work in the lab, Hager is actively involved in mentoring new 3M employees and has served as a tutor and coach for at-risk students in St. Paul, Minnesota area high schools.

Dr. Delony Langer-Anderson is an Advanced New Product Development Specialist in the 3M Construction Home & Improvement Markets (CHIM) Division. Langer-Anderson started 3M in 2000 in the Corporate Research Analytical Laboratory as a Senior Research Chemist and in 2006 began working on a line of innovative new products for the commercial and residential professional paint market as a Product Development Specialist in the CHIM Division. She has multiple pending patents for her work.

In 2010, Langer-Anderson was elected to head the 3M Tech Forum, 3M’s global network of technical employees. For her work, Langer-Anderson was recently awarded a 3M Corporate Level Circle of Technical Experience & Innovation Award, which is given to empl¬oyees who have been nominated by their peers for outstanding technical accomplishments and leadership at 3M.

Dr. Joe Oxman is a 3M Corporate Scientist with 3M’s Dental Health Care Division (3M ESPE). Having been at 3M for more than 27 years, he is considered an expert in photocurable systems, nanotechnology, glass ionomer materials and hard tissue adhesives. With 81 issued patents and more than 20 pending, Oxman played a key role in revolutionizing the dental industry by helping to create tooth colored restorative filling materials to replace conventional metal fillings.

Thanks to his outstanding work, Oxman has received several prestigious awards including the American Chemical Society Award, 3M Corporate Genesis Research Grant Awards and he was inducted into the 3M Carlton Society, which honors outstanding technical employees at 3M. He is the co-founder of an NSF Collaborative Research Center and serves as the 3M Industrial Director for the Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics. In addition to teaching several classes on innovation in the dental industry, Oxman has been involved in the 3M Summer Teacher’s program and mentored students of all ages who have an interest in science.

Dr. Martin B. Wolk, a senior specialist in the 3M Display and Graphics Business Laboratory’s Incubator Group, studies emerging technologies and trends that may impact the future directions and innovations of the Display and Graphics businesses. Over the past 20 years, Wolk has worked on the application of micro- and nano-scale patterning techniques to potential 3M products for printing, displays and graphics. Wolk is a co-inventor on 56 issued U.S. patents.

Wolk has also been involved with several Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) encouragement programs. He is a 3M Ingenuity Grant program committee member and an active participant in the 3M Visiting Wizards program. He has also worked on a 3M Public Affairs effort with a local Minnesota School District.

Dr. Caroline Ylitalo is the lead research specialist for the Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division. Throughout her career, Ylitalo has focused on developing new technologies that can be used across many 3M businesses and has over 30 issued patents. Examples include a line of inks and films for digitally printed commercial graphics and traffic signs, antimicrobial wound care dressings and odor resistant insulation.

Since joining 3M in 1992, Caroline has always been an active participant and volunteer in various science encouragement organizations including participation in the 3M Visiting Wizards program, judging at local and state science fairs and coaching Destination Imagination and Math Counts teams.