American Science and Engineering, Inc. CEO Addresses Threats to Global Shipping at International Maritime & Port Security Conference in Singapore.

Business Editors

BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2003

AS&E's Ralph Sheridan Shares Technology Solutions

for WMD Detection in Cargo

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AMEX: ASE), leader in X-ray detection technology, announced today that CEO and President Ralph Sheridan spoke at the International Maritime and Port Security Conference (IMPSC) in Singapore this afternoon, on the rising threat of terrorists utilizing maritime transport systems as a means of attack. Sheridan was asked to present as an expert on port security and homeland defense.

Sheridan commented, "The International Maritime and Port Security Conference is encouraging because the Asian shipping community understands that the terrorist threat in cargo is a real and present danger. The next step is mobilizing the shipping industry and government maritime authorities to build inspection processes and protocols, and to support them with effective technology." Sheridan continued, "The challenge is how to protect cargo from inclusion of terrorist threats - weapons, explosives, stowaways, radioactive isotope-laced dirty bombs and nuclear devices. This problem is made more difficult by the easy access for terrorists to criminal pathways in cargo crossing borders and ports. There are $650 billion in criminal activities evading authorities at sea and land ports of entry, including drug and cigarette smuggling, manifest fraud, cargo theft, and illegal aliens. In order to effectively protect cargo from terrorist threats, it is necessary to eliminate the criminal activities pervasive in global transportation logistics. Terrorists are well-schooled in sophisticated smuggling techniques that enable drugs and weapons to move virtually unimpeded because of the absence of effective technology tools.

"If a serious commitment is made to address cargo crime, security officials are more likely to begin the process of transforming marine cargo into a crime-free zone - less prone to terrorist concealments. There is a substantial benefit from the recapture of evaded duties and excise taxes, reduction in cargo theft, and reduction of the societal burdens created by the consequences of drug and people smuggling. The tangible economic gain from a significant decrease in cargo crime more than recovers the $10 to $20 billion investment in technology, information systems, and dedicated security staffing necessary to implement a terrorist security protocol worldwide."

Sheridan concluded, "In order to fulfill our leadership responsibility to provide technology solutions, American Science and Engineering (AS&E) has developed an array of new detection capabilities to improve the effectivity and productivity of port security operations. Radiation Threat Detection (RTD) integrates detection of gamma ray and neutron emissions into the entire line of cargo systems, to simultaneously detect dirty bombs and nuclear weapons. Hong Kong Customs has been the first to upgrade its AS&E X-ray systems with this capability. The new Shaped Energy(TM) Gantry System is a rapid throughput system providing high penetration with backscatter imaging for detection and object recognition - capable of scanning more than 1,000 TEUs a day. In addition, the new Z(R) Backscatter Van(TM) (ZBV) provides a low-cost, flexible, backscatter-only tool for pre-screening cargo and inspecting empty containers. AS&E is delivering on our commitments to the maritime industry to provide more information to security professionals, enabling them to make better, faster threat decisions - thereby minimizing the number of intrusive manual inspections."

About AS&E(R)

AS&E develops and manufactures sophisticated X-ray inspection products for critical detection and security applications. These systems are solving an expanding range of inspection problems including detecting car and truck bombs, combating weapons smuggling, and imaging cargo to expose trade fraud and illegal immigration. AS&E's patented Z(R) Backscatter technology detects plastic explosives, illegal drugs, and other contraband, even when artfully concealed in complex backgrounds by terrorists and smugglers. AS&E's Shaped Energy(TM) X-ray inspection systems combine material discrimination features of Z(R) Backscatter imaging with the penetration capability of high-energy X-rays for dense cargoes. AS&E's High Energy Systems Division manufactures linear accelerators for a variety of applications including medical, scientific, security, electron beam curing and non-destructive testing. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit http://www.as-e.com.

About IMPSC

The International Maritime and Port Security Conference (IMPSC), organized by the Maritime and Port Association of Singapore (MPA), is being held January 21 - 23, 2003 at the Shangri-La Hotel on Orange Grove Road in Singapore. The IMPSC aims to promote maritime security, and highlight the various international efforts and initiatives in the port security arena. The theme of this conference is "Maritime Security - Changing Landscape and New Challenges." For more information please visit www.mpa.gov.sg.

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E's financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered "forward-looking" under applicable securities laws. AS&E wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein include the following: significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company's systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any sole-source component incorporated into the AS&E's products (of which there are several); litigation seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; potential product liability claims against the Company; global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; global economic developments and the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company's products to address such threats; and the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are more fully set forth under the caption "Forward-Looking Information and Factors Affecting Future Performance" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ending March 31, 2002.