Dr. Bill Schonberg, professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, was elected president of the Hypervelocity Impact Society at its 2017 meeting in April in Canterbury, England. Schonberg’s term as president runs until the society’s next conference, which is in 2019.

The Hypervelocity Impact Society is an international professional organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to facilitating the exchange of information on the physics of high- and hypervelocity impact phenomena. The society’s biennial symposia serve as a catalyst for stimulating research in this area through oral and poster presentations and commercial exhibits. The symposium’s proceedings are the major archival source of papers published in this field.

In 2015, Schonberg was selected as the recipient of the society’s Distinguished Scientist Award in recognition of his leadership, innovation and technical excellence in hypervelocity research. In addition to co-chairing that year’s Hypervelocity Impact Symposium, Schonberg also co-chaired the 1998 symposium, served as the society’s president and secretary-treasurer, and chaired the society’s educational outreach and publications committees. As educational outreach committee chair, Schonberg was responsible for administering the Alex Charters Student Scholars program, which provides financial support to students who attend the symposia.