3D Printing and additive manufacturing are discussed.

Dr. Brett Conner is the Director of Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Initiatives and an Associate Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Youngstown State University. Dr. Conner is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Youngstown Business Incubator. Dr. Conner has research interests in additive manufacturing and 3-D printing related to: multi-material structures, functional graded materials for shock and energy absorption applications and economic models for additive manufacturing.


Dr. Conner had fifteen years of experience in government and industry prior to joining the faculty at YSU. Dr. Conner served in the U.S. Air Force where he conducted research into materials, conducted space systems development, developed technology policy and managed programs. His assignments included Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Pentagon. After the Air Force, Dr. Conner was a contractor supporting the Mine Resistant Ambush Protection (MRAP) Joint Program Office. There, he led teams of engineers to upgrade survivability and automotive performance of these armored vehicles used to protect soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Afterwards, Dr. Conner spent five years at the Alcoa Technical Center where he started in the Alcoa Defense organization and then moved into the Alloy Technology Division.


Dr. Conner received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri in physics and masters and doctorate from MIT in materials science and engineering.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx