Panel Discussions

Technical Program Keynote Session Special Sessions Panel Discussion

Executive Leadership Forum

Featuring Industry, Academia & Government Executive Perspectives

Monday, September 28, 2026 | 8:00 – 10:45 a.m. | Quebec City Convention Center, Canada (Room 309AB)

Chair: Dr. Navin Manjooran, Chairman, Solve | Immediate Past President, ASM International

Moderator:
Renee Parente, AMD, Chief of Staff and Program Management Director for Technology & Product Engineering / ASM International EDFAS President

EMCEES:
Andrew J. Gillespie, Purdue University, ASM Student Board Member
Wenchi Liu, Northwestern University, ASM Student Board Member

AI and Materials Science and Engineering
Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries around the globe—but what does it mean for materials science and engineering beyond the headlines? Join leaders from industry, academia, and government for an executive-level conversation about the real impact of AI across the materials ecosystem, from discovery and R&D to qualification and manufacturing. The panel will explore where AI delivers measurable results today, where hype has outpaced reality, and the challenges organizations are encountering along the way. Most importantly, we will look ahead at emerging opportunities and what materials leaders need to do now to harness AI effectively and avoid being left behind.

Panelists:

Dr. Andre McDonald, FASM, University of Alberta, Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering / Memorial University, Incoming Vice-President of Research and Innovation
Mr. Tyler Nester, NASA, Acting Moon to Mars Chief Engineer
Dr. Eli Ross, Pratt & Whitney, Technology Manager for Materials & Processes Engineering
Dr. Jason Sebastian, QuesTek Innovations LLC, Executive Vice President, Market Operations
Mr. Sridhar Swamy, AMD, Senior Director of Data Science Strategy
Dr. JC Zhao, FASM,  University of Connecticut (UConn), Dean of College of Engineering

Future of Materials Science & Engineering– Funding, Investment and Strategic Partnerships
The materials science and engineering community is facing a period of significant change driven by shifting government priorities, evolving industry needs, workforce challenges, global competition, and rapidly advancing technologies. As funding priorities evolve across government, industry, and academia, organizations must adapt their approaches to secure the resources needed to advance materials research, technology development, and workforce initiatives. This panel brings together leaders from industry, academia, and government to discuss emerging funding models, public-private partnerships, collaborative research programs, and strategies for aligning investments with national and commercial priorities.Panelists will share how their organizations are navigating a changing funding landscape, identifying new sources of support, and building the partnerships necessary to accelerate innovation. Attendees will gain practical insights into successful funding strategies, opportunities for collaboration, and actionable approaches to sustaining growth and competitiveness in materials science.

Panelists:

Mr. Burak Akyuz, FASM, Applied Technical Services(ATS), Vice President – Testing
A/Prof Andrew Ang, Swinburne University of Technology , Co-Director of Space Technology and Industry Institute & Director of Microscopy and Advanced Analytical Facility / ASM International TSS President
Dr. Ellen Cerreta, FASM Los Alamos National Laboratory, Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences
Dr. Kathy Lu, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department Chair, Distinguished Professor, Engineering Leadership Endowed Scholar
Dr. Gary Pickrell, Virginia Tech, Professor in Materials Science and Engineering; Board of Directors, Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing
Dr. Marie-Pierre Ippersiel, PRIMA Quebec, President and CEO

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Materials Research and Journal Publications

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 9:10 – 10:30 a.m. | 309AB

Chair and Moderator:

Dr. Elizabeth Hoffman, FASM, Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) | President, ASM International

Panelists:

Dr. Elvin Beach, The Ohio State University | Editor, Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention

Dr. Ryan M. Deacon, RTX Technology Research Center | Editor, Metallography, Microstructure, and Analysis

Dr. Ursula Kattner, FASM, National Institute of Standards and Technology | Editor, Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusion

Dr. André McDonald, FASM, University of Alberta | Editor, Journal of Thermal Spray Technology

Wenchi Liu, Material Science and Physics Student, Northwestern University

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping both how materials research is conducted and how it is published. In this 90-minute moderated panel, editors of ASM journals — joined by a student researcher navigating these tools firsthand — will discuss what they are seeing in submitted manuscripts, the policies and ethical considerations surrounding AI in research, manuscript preparation, and peer review, and the implications for authors, reviewers, and the scientific record moving forward. The session will conclude with open audience Q&A. Whether you are an author, reviewer, or simply watching this transformation unfold, this conversation will offer a candid, practical look at research publishing in the age of AI.

Beyond “Business as Usual”: Strengthening Global Supply Chains for Critical Materials

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Exhibit Hall 400 AB – Industry Forum

Critical materials impose a hard constraint on industrial growth, exposing the limits of traditional mining models in the face of rising demand, supply chain dependencies, sustainability requirements, and geopolitical risk. This panel examines industry-led approaches beyond “business-as-usual,” including advanced processing technologies, materials substitution, and system-level supply optimization. Panelists will also address procurement and end-user challenges from supply volatility to qualification and business model risk. The discussion will examine how material availability is directly shaping product architecture, performance tradeoffs, and innovation timelines across critical technology sectors.

Moderator:

David Riegnor, Senior Materials Analyst, S.E.A. Company