At every ICCM Conference since 2005, the outstanding contributions of one individual to the composites field is recognized through the Scala Award, which carries with it the designation of World Fellow. This award is made by the Executive Council of ICCM, in consultation with the Conference Chair, and is made to an individual who has a particular connection with the country hosting the ICCM conference.

The Scala Award is named after Dr. Eraldus “Pete” Scala (1922- 2010) who founded the International Conference on Composite Materials (ICCM) series in 1971.

Dr. Scala earned a Masters degree from Columbia University. He continued his studies at Yale University to earn his Doctorate in engineering, metallurgy & materials. He started work as a metallurgical chemist and research associate on an Atomic Energy Commission Project with the Physical Metallurgy Department at Columbia. He progressed in his profession and early career at Chase Brass & Copper Company and the Avco Corporation as a research metallurgist, training director and manager. In 1961, Dr. Scala joined the Cornell University faculty as Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Sciences. His scholarly research and consulting included positions on the Advisory Board on Materials of NASA, the Materials Advisory Board of the National Academy of Sciences, the Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center, the Aerospace Corporation, and the Battelle Memorial Institute. In 1971, he founded the International Conference on Composite Materials. This first conference was split between two locations: Geneva Switzerland, and Boston, MA, USA. In 2001 Dr. Scala was recognized by ICCM as a World Fellow for his lifetime achievements.

In 1972, he became a Consulting Engineer in High Temperature Materials, High Strength Fibers and Composites, and took a position with the Cortland Line Company in Cortland, NY. His research was applicable to the growing industrial demand for composite materials, and he developed expertise on fly lines, fishing rods, tennis rackets and Kevlar lines, ropes and cables. In 1980 he founded and became President of the Cortland Cable Company (CCC), specializing in cable and rope engineering and manufacturing. He retired from his CCC technical consulting position with the company in 2005 and pursued many interests throughout his professional and retirement years, combining his personal activities with his intellectual drive.