Research Home
GEM: Green Energy & Materials
The ASCC’s strategic plan, called GEM, focuses the Center’s work on Green Energy and Materials development. Through GEM, the Center is at the forefront of significant new sustainability industries in the nation. Our eight major research areas are Civil Infrastructure Durability, Advanced Wood Composites, Large-scale Bio-based Additive Manufacturing, Cellulose Nanocomposites, Advanced Structural Concepts, Structural Thermoplastics & Smart Materials, Ocean Engineering & Energy, and Structural, Material, & Wind Blade Testing. Innovations in GEM research and development position the Center to critically support the state’s ambitious efforts to be carbon neutral by 2045 and usher in a low-carbon economy.
RESEARCH AREAS
ASCC Global Impact – 500+ Clients
The ASCC has a highly diverse list of industrial clients on state, national, and international levels – ranging from small, start-up companies to large, Fortune 500 corporations. Our capacity for industrial cooperation has led to more than 500 product development and testing projects, along with leading awards for innovation in the composite materials and civil engineering fields.
Additionally, the Center has participated in the formation of 15 spinoff companies through licensing agreements of patents or trade secrets. We’ve partnered with companies throughout the world on more than 500 product development and testing projects.
Our Research
The Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine is a world leader in providing research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, manufacturing, and the engineering of composites and structures.
The ASCC is a designated University of Maine Signature Research Program, titled, “Advanced Materials in Infrastructure and Energy.“
The Center was initially dedicated to wood composites research. Since 1996, the Center expanded its capabilities into eight other research areas: Advanced Wood Composites, Large-scale Bio-based Additive Manufacturing, Cellulose Nanocomposites, Advanced Structural Concepts, Structural Thermoplastics & Smart Materials, Ocean Engineering & Energy, and Structural, Materials, and Wind Blade Testing.
Learn more about our history.
40+ Awards & Honors
Full List of Awards and Honors
Highlights
Dr. Sunil Bhandari, Dr. Roberto Lopez-Anido, James Anderson, and Alexander Mann – Best Paper by the SPE Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing, December 2021
Hub & Spoke Researchers from UMaine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Design: Innovation in Green Composites Design Award for Composites Excellence by American Composites Manufacturers Association, October 2021
Dr. Habib Dagher – 2021 Academic Pioneer Award by American Composites Manufacturers Association, October 2021
David Erb et al – Best Paper at the 2021 NDIA Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium, August 2021
Andrew Schanck – Outstanding Student of the Year by U.S. Department of Transportation, January 2020
Dr. Douglas Gardner – Distinguished Educator Award from the Society of Wood Science and Technology, November 2018
Dr. Habib Dagher – Innovator of the Year, Windpower Engineering and Development Magazine, April 2017.
UMaine Composites Center – Innovator of the Year Award, Maine International Trade Center, May 2017.
Dr. Habib Dagher – 2015 White House Transportation Champion of Change – View the award ceremony
Dr. Bill Davids – 2015 Distinguished Maine Professor – University of Maine, Orono, ME, U.S.
Core Values
STUDENTS FIRST
NONE OF US IS AS
SMART AS ALL OF US
Mission Statement
The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, manufacturing, and the engineering of composites and structures. The Center is housed in a 100,000 ft2 ISO 17025-accredited testing laboratory with more than 260 full and part-time personnel.
BELOW IS THE MOBILE SITE
ASCC Global Impact – 500+ Clients
The ASCC has a highly diverse list of industrial clients on state, national, and international levels – ranging from small, start-up companies to large, Fortune 500 corporations. Our capacity for industrial cooperation has led to more than 500 product development and testing projects, along with leading awards for innovation in the composite materials and civil engineering fields.
Additionally, the Center has participated in the formation of 15 spinoff companies through licensing agreements of patents or trade secrets. We’ve partnered with companies throughout the world on more than 500 product development and testing projects.
Our Research
The Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine is a world leader in providing research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, manufacturing, and the engineering of composites and structures.
The ASCC is a designated University of Maine Signature Research Program, titled, “Advanced Materials in Infrastructure and Energy.“
The Center was initially dedicated to wood composites research. Since 1996, the Center expanded its capabilities into eight other research areas: Advanced Wood Composites, Large-scale Bio-based Additive Manufacturing, Cellulose Nanocomposites, Advanced Structural Concepts, Structural Thermoplastics & Smart Materials, Ocean Engineering & Energy, and Structural, Materials, and Wind Blade Testing.
Learn more about our history.
40+ Awards & Honors
Full List of Awards and Honors
Highlights
Dr. Sunil Bhandari, Dr. Roberto Lopez-Anido, James Anderson, and Alexander Mann – Best Paper by the SPE Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing, December 2021
Hub & Spoke Researchers from UMaine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Design: Innovation in Green Composites Design Award for Composites Excellence by American Composites Manufacturers Association, October 2021
Dr. Habib Dagher – 2021 Academic Pioneer Award by American Composites Manufacturers Association, October 2021
David Erb et al – Best Paper at the 2021 NDIA Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium, August 2021
Andrew Schanck – Outstanding Student of the Year by U.S. Department of Transportation, January 2020
Dr. Douglas Gardner – Distinguished Educator Award from the Society of Wood Science and Technology, November 2018
Dr. Habib Dagher – Innovator of the Year, Windpower Engineering and Development Magazine, April 2017.
UMaine Composites Center – Innovator of the Year Award, Maine International Trade Center, May 2017.
Dr. Habib Dagher – 2015 White House Transportation Champion of Change – View the award ceremony
Dr. Bill Davids – 2015 Distinguished Maine Professor – University of Maine, Orono, ME, U.S.
Mission Statement
The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, manufacturing, and the engineering of composites and structures. The Center is housed in a 100,000 ft2 ISO 17025-accredited testing laboratory with more than 260 full and part-time personnel.
Value Statement
To deliver cutting-edge Green Energy and Materials solutions to solve our climate crisis and train the next generation of GEM champions