Keynote speakers Kent Young, Director of Technology at Sherwin-Williams, and Lee Orr, Commercialization Manager at the United Soybean Board, presented “Bio-based Coatings Technology: Collaborative Research with Supply Chain Partners.”

The Best Speaker Presentation was awarded to Robert McMullin, Manager of Nanotechnology at BYK USA, who presented “Dispersed Nanoparticles: Their Positive Influence on Corrosion and UV Protection.” The Best Student Presentation was awarded to Tongzhai Gao, a graduate student at the University of Akron, who presented a poster on the “Effect of Pigmentation on Polyurethane/Polysiloxane Hybrid Coatings,” working with Dr. Mark Soucek, University of Akron.

 The SOS also featured two short courses and commercial presentations by some of the sponsors.