Advanced Structures & Composites Center

Orono, Maine — On Thursday, Maine Science Podcast featured Dr. Habib Dagher, the founding executive director of the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC). Produced by the Maine Science Festival, the aim for the podcast is to feature Mainers making strides in science, engineering, technology, and innovation.

Dagher joins host Kate Dickerson, interim executive director of the Maine Discovery Museum, in discussing a wide range of topics – from his personal journey from Lebanon to the United States to the history, evolution and future of the ASCC. Dagher explains the ASCC’s strategic plan GEM, or Green Energy & Materials, and their goal “to bring green energy and materials to the state, to the country, and to the world” through the hundreds of ongoing projects in the various fields housed at the ASCC.

Some key projects mentioned include using next-generation additive manufacturing to 3D print houses and address the housing crisis, floating offshore wind turbines, and inflatable “Bridge in a Backpack” – all made from renewable and sustainable composite materials. 
“Composites really is a big family of materials that can be designed from the ground up to solve a particular problem, and they’re very versatile,” said Dagher, looking at the versatility of composite materials.

When asked what he is most proud of over his time at the Center, Dagher says, “What I’m most proud of is the over 2,600 students who’ve interned in our lab over the last 25 years. I look back and say what would make me more proud is the fact that every one of those had a job coming out of this lab, having interned, having been paid to work in this lab, and they’ve come from over 30 academic departments on campus.” This aligns perfectly with one of the ASCC’s core mottos: Students First.

Advocating for interdisciplinary teamwork, Dagher stands firm in the value of collaboration in innovation. “There’s always a better way, we just have to find it.” “That’s the beauty of science – the sky’s the limit.”

Contact: Grace Bradley, Grace.Bradley@maine.edu