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2020 ASC 35th Technical Conference Recap – First Virtual Meeting

By Navid Zobeiry, Communications Editor, American Society for Composites, Last updated: May 1, 2025

The 35th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites (ASC) was held virtually for the first time from September 14–17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference was chaired by Prof. Kishore Pochiraju (Stevens Institute of Technology), with co-chairs Dr. Nikhil Gupta (NYU Tandon School of Engineering) and Dr. Adam Sawicki (Boeing), and featured participation from both academia and industry.

Despite the challenges, the event successfully showcased the resilience and adaptability of the composites community, with over 144 technical papers presented across diverse themes such as nanocomposites, smart materials, machine learning applications, additive manufacturing, durability, and multiscale modeling.

For more details, you can access the full program and paper listings below:

Plenary and Invited Highlights

  • Prof. David A. Weitz (Harvard University) – "Precision Fabrication of Composite Materials Using Microfluidics"
    A deep dive into soft matter physics and precision composite material fabrication.
  • Dr. Prabhjot Singh (Lockheed Martin) – "Industrial Adoption of Additive Manufacturing and Scale-Up Challenges"
    Exploration of real-world implementation challenges and future pathways for additive manufacturing in aerospace and defense sectors.
  • Prof. Charles E. Bakis (Penn State University) – "Composites for Concrete Reinforcement: Bridging between Research and Standardization"
    Wayne W. Stinchcomb Memorial Lecture discussing the progress of composites in infrastructure and standardization.
  • Dr. Christopher Hoppel (U.S. Army Research Laboratory) – "Armor Applications of Composite Materials"
    An overview of composites in next-generation protective technologies for military applications.
  • Mr. Andrew Wells (National Science Foundation) – "National Science Foundation Support for Composites Research"
    Insights into NSF’s priorities and support mechanisms for composites-related research.

Special Activities

The conference also featured a panel discussion on Workforce Development and Certification Opportunities in Composites, featuring Thomas Whitney (University of Dayton), Joannie Harmon Heath (IACMI), Steve Kane (SpaceTEC Partners), and Douglas Duane Ward (Aviation Industry Specialist).

Awards and Recognition

  • Outstanding Researcher Award: Dr. Zdeněk Bažant (Northwestern University)
  • Young Composites Researcher Awards: Dr. Marco Salviato (University of Washington) and Dr. Kun Fu (University of Delaware)
  • ASC Fellow: Dr. Samit Roy (University of Alabama)
  • Best Paper Award (based on 2019 ASC Conference submissions): Dr. KT Tan and Isaiah J. Kaiser (University of Akron)

By the Numbers

  • 144 technical papers
  • 5 plenary and invited presentations
  • Special sessions on Certification, Accreditation, Licensing, and Education (CALE) and Machine Learning for Composites
  • 2 student competitions (Paper Competition and Simulation Challenge)
  • 1 major panel discussion on workforce development

Organizing Committee

  • Conference Chair: Prof. Kishore Pochiraju (Stevens Institute of Technology)
  • Conference Co-Chairs: Dr. Nikhil Gupta (NYU Tandon School of Engineering), Dr. Adam Sawicki (Boeing)
  • Local Organizer: Dr. Sandra Clavijo (Stevens Institute of Technology)
  • Awards Chair: Prof. Erian Armanios (University of Texas at Arlington)