Midwest mechanics tradition: SEM Regional Student Conferences

The Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) has reinvigorated regional conferences for students across the country. This has provided a great opportunity for students to present their research and meet other mechanics students from across the Midwest.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has played a key role in the Midwest SEM Student Conference by sending undergraduate and graduate students each year and hosting the event—most recently in 2015. That year 29 students (photo) attended from nine universities, including Marquette University, Michigan State University, Michigan Tech University, Northwestern University, Purdue University, University of Michigan, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

For many attendees, the Midwest SEM Student Conference is students’ first opportunity to present in a conference environment. As one past attendee commented: “I have not presented at any conferences and this allowed me to get a practice run on my presenting ability. This experience will definitely make my first major conference presentation much better!”

In 2018 the conference will be held at Purdue University on March 10. Learn more here.

Photo of conference attendees
Student attendees of a past mechanics conference hosted by UW-Madison. The conference drew students from several universities.