Living Rheology Compendium (RVF 2026)

Organizer

Reza Foudazi (University of Oklahoma)

Summary

This project will establish a volunteer SoR committee to develop the Living Rheology Compendium, a searchable online resource hosted through SoR and accompanied by a concise downloadable Version 1 guide. Informed in part by Dr. Reza Foudazi’s experience as a Young Observer in IUPAC, the project draws on the value of community-vetted scientific language and practical guidance in strengthening communication across disciplines, sectors, and international communities. The committee will be convened within two months of award, meet monthly for one hour over a 24-month period, and report progress to the SoR Executive Committee. Members will typically contribute about 3-5 hours per month, including meeting participation, review of draft materials, and limited subgroup work between meetings, while the Project Lead will contribute about 4-6 hours per month on average. The first edition will harmonize recommended terminology, concise definitions, symbols and units, minimum reporting elements, and recommended measurement practices for commonly used rheological tests. By improving clarity, consistency, and accessibility in how rheology is taught, reported, and practiced across academia, industry, and associated fields, the project will directly advance SoR’s mission to expand the knowledge and practice of rheology through education, partnership, collaboration, and broad dissemination.

Expected Outcomes

The primary outcomes of the project will be:

• formation of a volunteer SoR committee within two months of award
• a defined scope and work plan for the first edition
• a searchable SoR-hosted Living Rheology Compendium released as Version 1
• a concise downloadable companion guide suitable for teaching, training, and reference
• progress and final recommendation reports to the Executive Committee on long-term maintenance and expansion

The committee is the mechanism for producing these deliverables, not the endpoint of the project.

Impact will be assessed through practical metrics, including

• number of published entries and recommended-practice pages,
• breadth of participation across academia, industry and national labs,
• amount of community feedback received during review,
• early evidence of adoption such as page views, guide downloads, and number of citation in literature

24-month timeline:

• Months 1-2: form committee, define scope, and approve the work plan.
• Months 3-6: review existing resources, prioritize content, and begin drafting.
• Months 7-12: prepare pilot entries, definitions, reporting templates, and recommended-practice pages, and submit a progress update to the Executive Committee.
• Months 13-16: circulate a beta version for community feedback through SoR channels.
• Months 17-21: revise and harmonize content and prepare the companion guide.
• Months 22-24: launch Version 1 online and submit the final report and maintenance recommendations.

This timeline keeps the effort bounded and outcome-driven while establishing a durable SoR resource that can continue evolving after the award period.

Impact on SoR’s Mission

This project directly advances the SoR mission by creating a SoR-hosted, community-vetted educational resource that strengthens rheology education, supports collaboration across academia, industry, and associated fields, and broadens dissemination of rheological knowledge to diverse communities. By improving the clarity, consistency, and accessibility of rheological terminology, reporting, and recommended measurement practices, the Living Rheology Compendium will help expand both the knowledge and practice of rheology aligned with SoR’s goals.