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| Vol. 19, No. 5 | Sept. 30, 1999 |
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| Vol. 19, No. 5 | Sept. 30, 1999 |
Jack Gillespie Jr. (left) and Karl Steiner
"Composites 2000: An International Symposium on Composite Materials" will highlight advances in composite materials and manufacturing processes by bringing together worldwide leaders in the field of composites to share their extensive knowledge of these topics with representatives of industry, government and academia. Coverage of the current state of the art will be complemented by the provision of insight into the future of advanced composites. Speakers were chosen from an international pool of prominent researchers in composite materials, including past winners of the Medal of Excellence, as well as University alumni who now hold respected positions in academia, government or industry.
The 1999 medal will be awarded on Oct. 6 to George S. Springer, Paul Pigott Professor of Engineering and chairperson of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University.
Established in 1984 in conjunction with the Decennial Celebration of the center, the medal was created to honor those who have achieved outstanding leadership in the composites field and who have maintained and demonstrated scholarly endeavor, ingenuity and/or economic enterprise over a sustained period of time. Since then, the medal has recognized 21 distinguished scientists in the field of composites.
The CCM Distinguished Alumni Award, which will be conferred the same evening, was initiated to recognize the outstanding achievements of UD graduates in composites. The inaugural award will recognize three individuals: W. James Renton, EG '74 PhD, director, Structures Technology, the Boeing Co.; James C. Seferis, EG '77 PhD, Boeing/Steiner Professor of Polymeric Composite Materials, Professor of Chemical Engineering and director of the Polymeric Composites Laboratory at the University of Washington; and Mark J. Shuart '86 PhD, director, Structures and Materials, NASA Langley Research Center.
According to center founder Jack R. Vinson, CCM was established at the University of Delaware in 1974 to meet the need for research and education of the workforce in the rapidly growing composites industry. The first composites course was taught at the University in 1969. Within five years, the research and academic program had grown to the point where a center was needed to provide a focal point and a mechanism for the centralization of resources.
"Over this past quarter century," Karl V. Steiner, executive director, said, "the center has attracted more than $65 million for composites research. To date, we have contributed to the education of well over 1,000 students, with 130 Ph.D.s and 160 master's degrees awarded to center-affiliated students. CCM has become an internationally recognized center of excellence, hosting visiting faculty, researchers and students from more than 20 countries."
"One of the keys to the center's success," John W. (Jack) Gillespie Jr., technical diretor, said, "has been our ability to bring together multidisciplinary teams of researchers to collaborate with industry and government. Since our industrial consortium was formed in 1978, we have worked with more than 120 companies in the materials supplier and end user communities. We're well-poised to meet the challenges of the year 2000 and beyond in collaboration with our industrial and government partners."
"The reputation of the University of Delaware as a leader in composites research has contributed significantly to our ability to attract first-class students to the campus," President David P. Roselle said.
"The vision of the center's leadership to provide an international hub for composites research, education and technology transfer has been not only met but surpassed."
The symposium will be broadcast live over the Internet; the webcast will be accessible at <www.ccm.udel.edu/mission/ comp2000>.
-Diane Kukich
