American Science and Engineering, Inc. to Join Security Panel, Demonstrate Equipment, at Massachusetts Governor's Conference on Technologies Against Terrorism.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003

AS&E to Discuss Port and Border Security, Demonstrate

New Z(R) Backscatter Van(TM), at Half-day Conference

by Gov. Mitt Romney and Massachusetts Technology Collaborative

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AMEX: ASE) (AS&E(R)), a leader in X-ray detection technology, announced today that Richard Mastronardi, Vice President of Product Management, will present at the Governor's Conference on Technologies Against Terrorism in Cambridge, Massachusetts this Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at 10:10 a.m. ET. In addition, AS&E will demonstrate the new Z(R) Backscatter Van(TM) (ZBV) following the conference.

Mastronardi will discuss non-intrusive X-ray detection technologies as part of the "Port and Border Security Panel," to be moderated by Dennis Treece, Director of Corporate Security, Massport. Representatives from Hydroid Inc., Raytheon and the U.S. Coast Guard will also speak on this panel.

"We are pleased with this opportunity to participate in Governor Romney's Conference on Technologies Against Terrorism," Mastronardi said. "This conference demonstrates the importance of research and development in the fight against terrorism, and presents new security solutions from area technology companies. The ZBV is a unique, agile new tool to quickly and rapidly inspect containers and vehicles for terrorist threats. The U.S. Government has recognized the advantages of the ZBV, with an order for four of these vans from the Department of Homeland Security last week."

The Z Backscatter Van is an extremely mobile, cost-effective and high-speed X-ray inspection tool built into a commercially available delivery van. The ZBV deploys proprietary Z(R) Backscatter and Radioactive Threat Detection technologies for port and border security, force protection, urban surveillance, and other counterterrorism applications.

The Governor's Conference on Technologies Against Terrorism will take place from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center at 55 Broadway, Cambridge, Mass. Organized by Governor Mitt Romney and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the conference will focus on identifying key program areas and funding opportunities, as well as providing insight from successful Massachusetts technology developers who are participating in the homeland security marketplace. For more information, please visit www.masstech.org/gctat.

About AS&E(R): American Science and Engineering, Inc. develops and manufactures state-of-the-art X-ray inspection systems for homeland security and other critical defense applications. AS&E continues to innovate, create and develop new products by investing in new ideas through research and development, and evolving its technology to meet the needs of an ever-changing world. 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 the material discrimination features of Z(R) Backscatter imaging with the penetration capability of high-energy X-rays for dense cargoes, without the problems caused by excessive radiation. 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.

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 source component incorporated into AS&E's products; 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, and future delays in federal funding. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time.