AISI Announces 2026 Institute Medal Awardees

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today presented its highest technical award – the 2026 Institute Medal – to Narayan S. Pottore and Hong Zhu of ArcelorMittal Global R&D; and Kyung-Shik Kim, Can Okuyucu and Cemal Cem Tasan of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The honor was in recognition of their paper: “Understanding Cutting-Induced Reduction in Sheet Metal Formability: An In-Situ Investigation of Microstructural Effects.” The award was presented by Lourenco Goncalves, AISI Chairman and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., during AISI’s 2026 General Meeting in Washington, D.C.

“As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the American steel industry stands as a symbol of innovation. The groundbreaking work of this year’s Institute Medal recipients will enhance the industry’s technological capabilities for years to come. Their contributions ensure that we continue to provide exceptional, cutting-edge products to our customers. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to this year’s outstanding Institute Medal recipients,” said Goncalves.

Established in 1927, the Institute Medal and two Finalist Awards are presented for technical papers having special merit and importance in connection with the activities and interests of the iron and steel industry. Papers are judged on the potential value to the future prosperity of the industry, technical excellence and originality, effective communication and breadth of interest to AISI members.

Pictured Left to Right: Lourenco Goncalves, AISI Chairman and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.; C. Cem Tasan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Can Okuyucu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Narayan S. Pottore, ArcelorMittal, Hong Zhu, ArcelorMittal; John Brett, CEO of ArcelorMittal North America; and Kevin Dempsey, AISI president and CEO

Finalist Awards were also presented to:

• Dianbing Huang, Marcelo Andrade and David White from ArcelorMittal Global R&D, and Philipp Aufreiter, James Beaver, Ruy Cavicchia, Elaine Chen, Jason Reid and Michael Spitz from ArcelorMittal Texas HBI, for their collaborative paper titled “The Burden Column Structure and Gas Distribution in a DRI Shaft Furnace.”

Pictured Left to Right: Lourenco Goncalves, AISI Chairman and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.; Philipp Aufreiter, ArcelorMittal Texas HBI LLC, John Brett, CEO of ArcelorMittal North America; Dianbing Huang, ArcelorMittal Global R&D; and Kevin Dempsey, AISI president and CEO

• Jing Su and Dengqui Bai of SSAB Iowa R&D and Chase Rawlinson and Jason Thomas of SSAB Alabama Technical Services, for their collaborative paper titled “Microstructure Optimization for Improving Low-Temperature Toughness of Microalloyed X70 Linepipe Steel Plates Via Thermomechanical Controlled Processing.”

Pictured Left to Right: Lourenco Goncalves, AISI Chairman and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.; Chase Rawlinson, SSAB Americas; Jeff Moskaluk, SSAB Americas; and Kevin Dempsey, AISI president and CEO