SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation Awards

See the best and brightest minds acknowledged for their contributions

Recognizing the brightest minds

See the many ways excellence is recognized across multiple disciplines and the various ways innovation and research is acknolwdeged.

Review the criteria and nomination information below. We encourage your participation.

Visit the Highlights page to view the list of award winners from the 2023 meeting.

Award recipients at SPIE Smart Structures + NDE

SPIE Annual Awards List


The awards presented at Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation represent four categories of excellence across various disciplines:


SPIE SSM/NDE Lifetime Achievement Awards


2024 call to nominate a colleague

SPIE SSM/NDE Lifetime Achievement Awards recognize senior researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of Smart Structures and Materials (SSM) or Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) and who have been instrumental in their growth. The award decision is based on the extent of the nominee's impact on our community and participation in the SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation symposium. The prize consists of an SPIE certificate and a plenary talk at the Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation Symposium the following year.

Nominate a colleague who has made a significant impact on the Smart Structures + NDE community. View eligibility requirements and nomination instructions by clicking on the Nomination form button to the left.
Online application closes 21 August 2023 11:59 PM (PDT).


Craig F. Bohren Best Student Presentation Award

The Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication conference chairs choose the Best Student Presentation Award from their conference. This award is sponsored by an SPIE Fellow. A cash prize will be given to the first, second, and third place winners.

Craig F. Bohren is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Meteorology at The Pennsylvania State University. An expert on atmospheric optics, his autobiographical paper will no doubt inspire many researchers, young and old alike.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Be a student without a doctoral degree (undergraduate, graduate, or PhD student)
  • Be the presenter of an accepted oral presentation in the Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication conference
  • Have conducted the majority of the work to be presented
  • Present your paper as scheduled at Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation 2024 in Long Beach, CA.

Apply online:

You will be asked to provide your SPIE paper number, paper title, and school information.


Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems Best Student Paper Award

The Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems conference committee will choose the Best Student Paper Award from their conference. Applicants will then submit an extended abstract for review, and selected finalists will present in a special session at the Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation meeting. This award is sponsored by RDI Technologies. A cash prize will be given to the first, second, and third place winners.

Award Sponsor:

OSSC logo

Eligibility requirements:

  • Be a student without a doctoral degree (undergraduate, graduate, or PhD student)
  • Be the presenter of an accepted oral presentation in the Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems conference
  • Have conducted the majority of the work to be presented
  • Submit the final version of your manuscript through your SPIE.org account by 6 March 2023
  • Present your paper as scheduled and at the special session at Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation 2024.

Apply online:

  • Opens 5 December 2023 12:00 AM PT
  • Closes 8 January 2024 11:59 PM PT
  • Sign into https://spie.smapply.io with your SPIE.org account credentials
  • Once you are signed in, go to https://spie.smapply.io/prog/2024_SSN08_Award
  • Click on the “APPLY” button and submit the online application
    • You will be asked to provide your SPIE paper number, paper title, and school information
    • Provide an extended abstract (2-page maximum) in PDF format.

Review process:

  • The Awards Committee will review applications and extended abstracts, and select finalists to present in the Best Student Paper Session onsite
  • Finalists will be notified by 5 February 2024
  • First, second, and third place winners will be selected at the Best Student Paper Session.

Award Sponsor:

OSSC logo


EAP-In-Action Demonstration Awards

As part of the Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) conference, the EAP-in-Action Demonstration Session has been held over the past 23 years. New electroactive polymer materials and application areas are continuing to emerge and this session offers up-close demonstrations of EAP materials and devices in action from industry and academia. There is never a dull moment at this session which features everything from early university prototypes to products. The demonstration format enables interaction between the developers and potential users as well as a “hands-on” experience with our emerging technology.

Award certificates will be given to the three best EAP-in-Action demonstrations. The judges will assess the presenters’ performance as well as the quality and content of the demos.

How to Apply:
Send an email with the following information to Prof. Iain A. Anderson (i.anderson@auckland.ac.nz) by Wednesday 13 September 2023:
  • Title of the demo
  • Name of the presenter(s) and affiliation(s)
  • Short description of the "EAP-in-Action" demo (150 words or less)
  • One figure, consisting of a schematic and/or photo that represents the demo.

The description and figure will be included in the Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation program, as well as the Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) conference proceedings.