David Weaver was Group Leader of the Nonequilibrium Flows group at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate from 1992 until his untimely passing in 1997. At that time, David was also pursuing his doctorate degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Southern California, where he was instrumental in securing funds for an advanced space simulation chamber that bears his name to this day. David's research interests were in experimental flow diagnostics, laser induced fluorescence, Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method, micro-scale flows, and spacecraft contamination. David was a champion of student involvement in engineering research and development. He sponsored many students throughout his lifetime so they could attend AIAA and other conferences, giving many students their first opportunity to present their work in such forums. As a member of the Thermophysics Technical Committee (1995 - 1997), David looked into the feasibility of funding a Graduate Scholarship in Thermophysics. Through his hard work and dedication, student exposure to AIAA Thermophysics activities have grown over the years. In recognition of his lifelong work for young students in Aerospace Engineering, the Thermophysics Technical Committee has named the Best Student Paper Award after him.

This additional award for a technical paper presented by a student during the year was initiated in 1994 and renamed the David Weaver Best Student Paper Award in 2004. The Committee, based on the recommendation of the Best Paper Subcommittee, may confer a Student Best Paper Award each year based on the following description: The purposes of the Best Paper Award are to motivate participants in the sessions sponsored by the Thermophysics Committee toward excellence in technical content and presentation of papers and to recognize professional achievement by identifying one contribution as the best paper.

A student paper is defined as being one for which the actual research was undertaken and finished while the author was still a full time student. This award is designated for the deliverance of an outstanding paper, not simply the best paper given at a meeting. Thus, it is not mandatory to present the award annually. A monetary award is given to the winner of the Student Best Paper Award.

All AIAA papers are available in the AIAA Online Library. This database allows you to search for and order a copy of the paper online and for papers from recent years view the first page of each paper. A direct link to each paper within the database can be found by clicking on the paper number in the table below.

Nominations: Nomination forms for the Best Paper Awards are distributed in every Thermophysics session at the Aerospace Sciences Meeting in January, and at the Thermophysics Conference in the Summer. Any member of AIAA who attended the session at which the paper was presented may submit nominations. Submission of nominations immediately following the session is encouraged. However, nominations may be submitted to the Best Paper Award chair at any time prior to September 1^st of the calendar year in which the paper was presented. An AIAA member for each meeting may submit only one Best Paper nomination. A copy of the preprinted paper should accompany each nomination.
A Nomination form may be downloaded here.

Award Year: The year designated for the Best Paper Award is the calendar year from which the papers were presented at the Aerospace Sciences Meeting and the Thermophysics Conference. The Award is presented at the Thermophysics Conference in the following year.

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