The ASNT Learning and Events team is always seeking to innovate our events to optimize the experience and value to our attendees, and ASNT 2021: The Annual Conference will feature many exciting updates and new events. Here are 10 new things to look forward to at ASNT 2021:
1. Conference Kickoff
ASNT 2021 will kickoff on Monday, 15 November at 4 p.m. with the exciting keynote session featuring Mark Schulman, the drummer for P!NK. Schulman will deliver a high-energy and empowering keynote titled “Hacking the Rockstar Attitude: Harness the Energy, Spirit, and Passion of Rockstars.” This will be a new time for the keynote session, which has taken place on the morning of the first full day of the conference at past events. Instead, this year’s keynote will lead into the welcome reception and the opening of the exhibit hall, kicking off the events of ASNT 2021 with a bang!
2. New Conference App
In July 2021, ASNT began using a new mobile app for its events—if you have a previous version of the ASNT Events app, you may uninstall it. The new app will include features to help attendees streamline their experience and optimize their time, including options to create a personalized agenda, exchange contact information with other attendees, and search for exhibitors and speakers. The app will also send users news updates from ASNT Daily. Virtual attendees will find helpful features in the app as well. In addition to the news updates, virtual attendees can watch sessions through the app, allowing them to attend ASNT 2021 from anywhere! Instructions for downloading the new app will be included in your conference registration information.
3. Self Check-In
Instead of waiting in line at the registration counter, attendees will have the option to use the self check-in kiosks. These will be integrated with the new app and will streamline the registration process.
4. Networking Spaces
With a packed schedule, it can be challenging to find time to connect with colleagues and fellow industry professionals. This year, ASNT has built time into the daily schedule between the general sessions and the technical program to accommodate more networking opportunities. There will also be informal networking areas set aside in the venue, which will feature topical discussions.
5. NDT Playground
For another new networking option, ASNT 2021 will feature “NDT Playgrounds.” These informal, interactive sessions will take place in the common areas of the conference venue. Attendees are free to drop into these sessions at any point for a chance to learn something new, network with others who have a common interest, and take an enjoyable break from the busy conference schedule.
6. Enhanced ASNT Booth
While ASNT has previously had a membership table in the exhibit hall, this year’s booth will include staff representatives from each of ASNT’s departments on hand to answer questions and share information about all the opportunities to get involved, advance your career, and stay connected with ASNT year-round.
7. Virtual Component
Although ASNT 2021 will be taking place in-person, it will be a hybrid event, with special programming for virtual attendees. A selection of presentations will be online-exclusive; additionally, two of the on-site session rooms will be livestreamed in real-time for virtual attendees. Virtual attendees will also have access to all the general sessions taking place, including the keynotes. They can also stay connected to the event by using the conference app, where they can read ASNT Daily news updates and watch sessions.
8. Awards Throughout the Event
In years’ past, all of the ASNT Awards given at the Annual Conference were presented during the Awards Banquet. This year, these awards will be presented throughout the conference. This will allow for more time to recognize each award winner’s accomplishments and contributions. It will also streamline the former Awards Banquet, making room for a festive and fun celebration of the Society. Which leads to…
9. ASNT Celebrates!
ASNT Celebrates! is a new event debuting at ASNT 2021 that will take place on Wednesday, 17 November. This event will replace the now-retired Awards Banquet, and will be an opportunity to honor the accomplishments of ASNT members and the Society. It will start with a reception outside of the ballroom where attendees will mingle and sample local cuisine, followed by dinner in the ballroom. During the ASNT Celebrates! dinner, the Society will recognize the achievements of its outstanding volunteers. The evening will end in time for guests to experience entertainment options in nearby downtown Phoenix.
10. Closing Luncheon
Another new event debuting this year will be the Closing Luncheon on Thursday, 18 November, which will feature a keynote on artificial intelligence by Dr. Radhika Dirks. A quantum physicist-turned-entrepreneur, Dirks is CEO and co-founder at XLabs. In 2019 she was named one of the Top 30 inspirational women advancing AI by ReWork.
Interested in checking out all the new offerings at ASNT 2021? Learn more and register at asnt.org.
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Haley Cowans is Educational Materials Editor at ASNT, hcowans@asnt.org.
Learn more about ASNT 2021: The Annual Conference and register here.
Read more about ASNT 2021: The Annual Conference in the October issue of Materials Evaluation.
Photo by Luis Quintero from Pexels