Asphalt Institute Foundation Inc

TO CONDUCT STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES - "SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION"

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM IS AN ANNUAL TWO-DAY EVENT HELD FOR INTERNS FROM ASPHALT INSTITUTE MEMBER COMPANIES TO ATTEND AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIQUID ASPHALT INDUSTRY. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON HELPING STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE VARIED INDUSTRY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. THE STUDENTS TAKE PART IN LABORATORY TOURS, "ASPHALT 101" PRESENTATIONS AND LEARN PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR THEIR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE. STUDENT PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE ASPHALT INSTITUTE'S SUMMER MEETING TO NETWORK WITH MEMBER COMPANIES AND FURTHER LEARN ABOUT JOB AVENUES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.BILL AND SHIREEN KIRK SCHOLARSHIP FUND - THIS FUND ANNUALLY AWARDS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS PURSUING BACHELORS, MASTERS OR DOCTORAL DEGREES IN AREAS DESIGNATED BY THE SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING DEGREES IN CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF ASPHALT MATERIALS AND THEIR USE. SCHOLARSHIP MONIES ARE PAID DIRECTLY TO A RECIPIENT'S INSTITUTION AND MAY BE APPLIED TO QUALIFIED EDUCATION EXPENSES SUCH AS TUITION, BOOKS AND RELATED COURSE FEES. ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY MODULE & TEXTBOOK PROGRAM - LAUNCHED IN 2020, THE ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY MODULE CONSISTS OF LECTURES DESIGNED TO ASSIST PROFESSORS IN INTEGRATING ASPHALT CURRICULUM INTO A BASIC ENGINEERING OR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS COURSE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THE MODULE PACKAGE INCLUDES SYLLABUS, POWERPOINT SLIDES, LECTURE NOTES, TEACHING TIPS, PRACTICE PROBLEMS AND ELECTRONIC BOOK PUBLICATIONS FOR STUDENTS TO UTILIZE DURING THE COURSE. THE MODULE IS COMPLIMENTARY TO UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA FOR CLASSROOM USE. ADDITIONALLY, INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE DONORS HAVE SPONSORED HARDCOPY PUBLICATIONS FOR THESE CLASSROOMS THROUGH THE AI FOUNDATION'S TEXTBOOK PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOW STUDENTS TO BUILD THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE LIBRARIES WITH RELEVANT INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS.

STRATEGIC ASPHALT RESEARCH (STAR) SYMPOSIUM - THE STRATEGIC ASPHALT RESEARCH (STAR) SYMPOSIUM AIMS TO IDENTIFY LONG-TERM STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO ENSURE A ROBUST ASPHALT INDUSTRY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. EVENTS HELD IN 2017 AND 2022 ASSEMBLED A DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SYMPOSIUM THAT ALLOWED DISCUSSION AND IDEA SHARING AROUND TOPICS SUCH AS: HUMAN NEEDS/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, PERFORMANCE/DURABILITY, AND ECONOMICS/INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY AND FUNDING. IDEAS GENERATED WERE PRIORITIZED INTO GOALS AND STRATEGIES LEADING TO THE CREATION OF SYMPOSIUM REPORTS THAT SEEK TO IDENTIFY AND BUILD SOLUTIONS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ASPHALT BINDER INDUSTRY'S FUTURE. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THESE REPORTS SERVES AS A CATALYST TO IDENTIFY FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDS AND PROJECTS.FRED M. FEHSENFELD, SR. CATALYST FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE FUND - THIS FUND PROMOTES THE DEVELOPMENT OF INITIATIVE COMPATIBLE RESEARCH NEEDS STATEMENTS. THE FUND SUPPORTS AND PROMOTES INNOVATION IN THE ASPHALT INDUSTRY INCLUDING PUBLIC PROCUREMENT METHODOLOGY, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DESIGNS FEATURING ASPHALT PAVEMENTS, TESTING METHODOLOGY ENABLING PERFORMANCE PREDICTION OF ASPHALT BINDERS AND MIXTURES AND RESEARCH ON THE HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS FROM EXPOSURE TO ASPHALT PRODUCTS AND MIXTURES.ERGON FOUNDATION, INC. FUND - THIS FUND SUPPORTS RESEARCH AGENDAS, TOPICS AND NEEDS STATEMENTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE ERGON FOUNDATION'S INTEREST AND VISION TO ADVANCE THE LIQUID ASPHALT BINDER INDUSTRY. SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH FUND - THIS FUND SUPPORTS RESEARCH FOCUSED ON A PRAGMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF MARKETS, VELOCITY OF CHANGE AND THE REALITIES OF AN ASPHALT BINDER TRANSITION TO A NET-ZERO CARBON FUTURE AS THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SEEKS AN ECONOMY WIDE NET-ZERO TRANSITION BY THE YEAR 2050. THE FUND SUPPORTS RESEARCH TO HELP UNDERSTAND THESE IMPORTANT DYNAMICS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THE FUTURE USE OF ASPHALT AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL. IT WILL ALSO HELP ENSURE FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE BENEFITS OF A FULLY RECYCLABLE PAVING SYSTEM WHEN USING ASPHALT BINDERS. THE RESEARCH IS INTENDED TO BE A MAJOR AID IN THE SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION OF POLICY MAKERS, AGENCIES, AND CUSTOMERS AT ALL LEVELS. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM, GUIDED BY THE AIF RESEARCH COMMITTEE, FOCUSES ON FULFILLING RESEARCH NEEDS STATEMENTS AND PROPOSALS THAT FOCUS ON PERTINENT ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY TECHNICAL INDUSTRY EXPERTS. OUTSIDE DONORS MAY FUND RESEARCH PROJECTS MANAGED BY THE AI FOUNDATION. RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED BY QUALIFIED RESEARCH FACILITIES WITH WORK AND PROJECT MILESTONES MONITORED BY THE AIF RESEARCH COMMITTEE. FINAL REPORTS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE PUBLISHED UNDER THE AI FOUNDATION'S NAME AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.