Women of Asphalt Partners with AI for Mix Design Training
BY Sandy Lender
The Women of Asphalt (WofA) national organization and Asphalt Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, have partnered for a unique educational opportunity this December. And the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The inaugural “Inside the Mix: Understanding Asphalt Materials” technical training sold out within three weeks of the June 11 announcement that registration was open. It will offer women in the asphalt industry the opportunity to learn in the lab alongside their peers.
The inaugural “Inside the Mix: Understanding Asphalt Materials” technical training workshop takes place Dec. 9-10, 2026, at the Asphalt Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, and offers participants 10 professional development hours.
Brittyn Heisler, the WofA executive director, spoke of the importance of this event. “As Women of Asphalt has grown, we’ve heard a consistent message from both our members and national partners: more in-person training and development opportunities. Our partnership with Asphalt Institute was a natural fit. What better place to learn the science behind asphalt materials than the Asphalt Institute lab itself?”
This 101-level program will combine classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory learning to provide a practical introduction to asphalt materials and pavement performance. The course is designed to be a good fit for engineers, lab professionals, project managers, emerging leaders and others looking to strengthen their technical knowledge. The technical exchange offers an extension of the spirit of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for young women entering our industry and those already pursuing an asphalt-related career.
Wes Cooper, Asphalt Institute’s laboratory manager and senior research scientist, spoke to this collaboration. “This event highlights how diversity strengthens laboratory work, and why the asphalt industry needs women applying their unique STEM skillsets to enhance our technical footprint and leadership.”
“Whether you work in the lab, the field, the office or leadership, understanding the ‘why’ behind asphalt materials helps you contribute, grow and lead with confidence,” Heisler said. “Together, Women of Asphalt and Asphalt Institute are investing in the development of the next generation of industry talent.”
To that end, women who have signed up for the December event will expand their knowledge of a number of pieces of lab equipment, including how to use the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR).
“The dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) is the backbone of asphalt binder quality control, providing a fast, repeatable measure of a binder’s flow and deformation behavior,” Cooper said. “Using closely controlled temperature and small-strain oscillatory loading, the DSR characterizes the complex shear modulus (G*) and phase angle (δ), giving suppliers, contractors and user agencies a common basis for evaluating viscoelastic response.
“The test is governed by AASHTO T 315, Standard Method of Test for Determining the Rheological Properties of Asphalt Binder Using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), with test temperatures and parameters set by the binder’s performance grade (PG) and aging condition.
“In practice, a small specimen is loaded between two parallel plates and the rheometer is configured for the correct geometry and temperature; the instrument then applies the oscillation and records G* and δ. Routine DSR testing flags shifts in binder properties early, allowing corrective action before material drifts off-grade and fails to meet performance requirements.”
Learning how to perform tests with this foundational piece of equipment sets up the inaugural class of the “Inside the Mix” course for future success, which is one of the many goals WofA leadership sets for its events.
“We’re intentionally building signature programs that complement, not duplicate, the great work already happening across our industry,” Heisler said. “As Women of Asphalt continues to evolve, we’re focused not only on attracting talent to the industry, but also helping professionals grow and advance within it. This program supports that goal by connecting participants directly with industry experts while building confidence in the technical side of our industry.”