2024 ASC Conference Recap: A Memorable Gathering in San Diego
By Navid Zobeiry, Communications Editor, American Society for Composites, Last updated: April 10, 2025
The 39th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites (ASC), held October 21–24, 2024, in San Diego, marked a significant milestone for our community. The ASC conference was co-located with the 20th US-Japan Conference on Composite Materials and the ASTM Committee D30 Meeting, which commemorated its 60th anniversary. The result was an internationally engaged event, with a record-breaking number of attendees, and a program enriched by diverse perspectives from academia, industry, and government.
The event brought together over 400 participants from 18 countries. The diverse attendance—70% from academia and 30% from industry and government laboratories—fostered rich discussions and meaningful collaborations. The technical program featured 286 papers presented across 30 sessions, representing the broad spectrum of composites research. Particular interest was seen in sessions on multifunctional composites (18 papers), multiscale modeling (16 papers), additive manufacturing (16 papers), and AI and machine learning applications in composites (14 papers). The strong participation across these topics reflects both evolving research priorities and the growing intersection of data-driven methods with traditional engineering methods.
A Head Start for Students
This year’s conference saw a strong emphasis on student support and engagement, thanks in large part to the NSF-funded initiative Student Support for 2024 American Society for Composites (ASC) (NSF Award #2421943). Led by Professor Paulina Díaz-Montiel from the University of San Diego — also one of the conference co-chairs — the program helped make the event more accessible and enriching for student participants.
A total of 79 applications were received for the NSF Student Travel Award. Ultimately, 30 students were selected to receive financial support in the amount of $1,000 each. In addition to the travel awards, all student registration fees were reduced, with NSF funds supporting U.S.-based students and sponsor funds assisting international attendees.
The program also included a series of professional development and community-building activities designed to prepare students and foster early connections. These workshops were developed through the collaboration of Professor Paulina Díaz-Montiel and Professor Satchi Venkataraman, who also co-facilitated the virtual presentations and discussions:
- September 19: “Preparing an Effective Conference Presentation” — 45 student attendees
- September 26: “Networking at Conferences”
- October 10: “Student Researchers in Composites” (virtual networking session)
- October 20: “Student Researchers in Composites, Meet & Greet”
Thanks to these efforts, the 2024 ASC Conference hosted 160 student participants — a record number that helped bring fresh energy and new perspectives to the event. We extend our deep appreciation to Professor Díaz-Montiel, Professor Venkataraman, and other organizing committee members for spearheading this initiative and creating meaningful, inclusive opportunities for student development.
First Women in ASC Gathering
Another important milestone at this year’s conference was the first-ever Women in ASC gathering. Spearheaded by Professor Margherita Capriotti (San Diego State University) and Professor Paulina Díaz-Montiel (University of San Diego), this event created a welcoming space for women in the composites community. The goal of the gathering was to provide professional advice, build mentoring relationships, and foster a sense of belonging among women.
Plenary Highlights
This year’s conference featured several outstanding plenary talks and keynote presentations. Among the most memorable was the plenary delivered by Professor Michael Wisnom of the University of Bristol, titled:
“Does Micromechanics Work for Predicting the Transverse Tensile Strength of a Composite?”
The talk drew a standing-room-only audience and prompted attendees to rethink foundational assumptions in micromechanics. Professor Wisnom offered a critical and insightful perspective on why micromechanical models often fall short in predicting transverse tensile strength, and why our expectations may need to be recalibrated. The session sparked extended discussions that continued well beyond the allotted time — a true highlight of the week.
Design for Impact: ASC Sustainable Composite Design Competition
Now in its second year, the ASC Sustainable Composite Design Competition challenged students to apply their knowledge and creativity to a timely and practical problem:
Design a Renewable Power Generation System (RPGS) for a temporary small tent or cabin located in a remote area impacted by a climate or geopolitical disaster — such as fires, floods, forced migration, civil unrest, or war.
The competition attracted a wide range of innovative ideas. The 2024 Winning Team was Team Akron, composed of:
Jason Mack, Kwek Tze (K.T.) Tan, Faizan Mirza, Isaiah Kaiser, Bob Stevens, Benjamin Charley
Honoring Achievement Across the Composites Community
A highlight of this year’s conference was the presentation of the inaugural Professor Seiichi Nomura Award in Composites — a new distinction that celebrates excellence in research, education, and service. Named in honor of Professor Seiichi Nomura, the award recognizes individuals whose work has significantly advanced the field of composite materials, while also promoting collaboration between researchers in the United States and Japan. Awardees are expected to embody a spirit of innovation, mentorship, and lifelong learning.
2024 Recipient: Professor Goichi Ben, Nihon University (retired)
Professor Ben was honored for his lifetime contributions to the composites community and his commitment to fostering international cooperation and scholarly excellence.
In addition to the Nomura Award, several other members were recognized for their outstanding achievements:
- Fellow of the American Society for Composites
Professor Wenbin Yu, Purdue University - Outstanding Researcher Award
Professor Wenbin Yu, Purdue University - ASC Young Composites Researcher Award
Professor Aniruddh Vashisth, University of Washington - AIAA-ASC James H. Starnes Jr. Award
Professor Paul Weaver, University of Limerick
For his outstanding contribution in the field of composite structures and his supportive and inspirational mentoring of young academics and professionals. - ASC Best Paper Award (38th ASC Technical Conference, 2023)
Additive Manufacturing of Frontally-Polymerizable Continuous Carbon Fiber Tow-based Composites
Authors: N. Hmeidat, M. Zakoworothny, N. Parikh, T. Le, P. Agrawal, G. DeBrun, J. Baur, P. Geubelle, S. Tawfick, N. Sotos - ASC Ph.D. Scholarships
Hridyesh Tewani (University of Wisconsin, Madison)
Tania Lavaggi (University of Delaware)
Tyler Price (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) - ASC Student Simulation Challenge – University of Utah Team
Connor Farrell, Erik Langlo, Garret MacKay, Vignesh Babu Rao, Andrew Westerhoff
Project: Complete reverse analysis workflow of a mixed-mode bending (MMB) test scenario - Syensqo Student Paper Award
Predicting Macroscopic Mechanical Properties of Fiber Reinforced Composites Based on Microscale Fiber Morphologies
Authors: J. Husseini, S. Stapleton, F. Pourkamali-Anaraki
With Gratitude to the Organizers
This year’s success would not have been possible without the dedication and effort of the organizing committee:
- Conference Chair: Dr. Mehran Tehrani (University of California, San Diego)
- Conference Co-Chair: Dr. Margherita Capriotti (San Diego State University)
- US-Japan Conference Chair: Dr. Masahiro Arai (Nagoya University)
- US-Japan Co-Chair: Dr. Hyonny Kim (University of California, San Diego)
- US-Japan Co-Chair: Dr. Justin Massey (Naval Air Systems Command)
- Technical Program Co-Chair: Dr. Paulina Díaz-Montiel (University of San Diego)
- Technical Program Co-Chair: Dr. Satchi Venkataraman (San Diego State University)
Their leadership, attention to detail, and commitment to the community created a welcoming and intellectually stimulating environment for all participants.
The 39th ASC Technical Conference served as a powerful reminder of the strength and vitality of our composites community. From student-focused initiatives to high-level technical discussions, this event showcased the depth and diversity of our field. The energy, engagement, and quality of dialogue across all sessions reaffirm ASC’s central role in shaping the future of composite materials research.
We look forward to building on this momentum in the years to come. Thank you to all who contributed to making this year’s conference a success — speakers, participants, organizers, and volunteers.