Student Activities

Attendance at MS&T events exposes students to networking, learning, and fun. Students in the materials science field should take advantage of this unique opportunity to interact with professionals from all areas of materials science.

Material Advantage (MA) Chapter Travel Grants

MA chapters that plan to attend MS&T22 in person can apply for a US$500 Material Advantage Chapter Travel Grant! Chapter must be active and at least one Chapter Officer must be present at the Chapter Officer Workshop and Student Mixer to be considered for funding. Travel grants are made payable to the university’s MA Faculty Advisor at the conclusion of the conference. Travel grants are restricted to one grant per chapter per year.

The deadline to apply for a Material Advantage Travel Grant is September 16, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Young. Stay tuned for more information.

ACerS and TMS offer their own student travel grants, as well. The deadline to apply for TMS travel grants has passed, but applications for the ACerS Student Travel Grant can be submitted through September 1, 2022.

Student Social Media Contest

Students who post a photo on Facebook using the hashtag #MST22students will be entered for a chance to win one of two cash prizes! Photos must show that you are on site at MS&T22 in Pittsburgh to be considered.

Post your photos with the #MST22students on Monday, October 10, through Wednesday, October 12, to participate. Each post including the hashtag counts as one entry.

Creativity is always welcome. Both winners will be announced at the conclusion of MS&T22. Contact Courtney Young for more information.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

Chapter Officer Workshop – FOR CHAPTER OFFICERS ONLY
Network and share best practices! This year’s Chapter Officer Workshop will take place on Sunday, October 9 from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. This workshop provides a detailed introduction to the Material Advantage Student Program for chapter officers.

Registration is required for this workshop as well as for MS&T. This workshop is for Material Advantage Chapter Officers only.

Register here by September 25, 2022. Contact Drew Fleming for more information.

2022 Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest
Semi-Final Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Final Time: 3 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

MS&T is the host to the Material Advantage Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest. The purpose of the contest is to encourage undergraduate students to present technical papers and to improve their presentation skills. The presentation subject must be technical but can relate to any aspect of materials science and engineering.

Cash prizes to be awarded to contest winners are as follows: $500 for first place, $250 for second place, $150 for third place, and $100 for fourth place.

MS&T speaking contestants must be reported to Yolanda Natividad by September 16, 2022. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Yolanda.

Student Networking Reception
Location: The Westin Pittsburgh
Time: 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Students will have the opportunity to interact with each other and with industry professionals in a relaxed setting. Refreshments will be provided. This event is open to all students; no tickets or reservations are required.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10

NEW! Professional Student Headshots
Time: 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Everyone needs a good headshot for LinkedIn. Adding a professional photo conveys who you are and how you want to be perceived by your future employer. Undergrads and graduate students may take advantage of this FREE service provided by the Material Advantage Program. Attire recommendation: As the adage goes, dress for the job you want. No registration needed.

2022 Undergraduate Student Poster Contest
The purpose of this contest is to encourage undergraduate students to present their undergraduate research experiences and to improve their communication skills. The poster entered must be the work of an undergraduate and completed during the undergraduate education of the student.

The work presented in the poster does not have to be performed at the student’s home institution, but could be, for example, from a project performed as part of a co-op experience, a summer internship, or a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) project.

First, second, and third places will be given in the amounts of $250, $150, and $100, respectively. All undergraduate students are eligible to enter the poster contest. The winners will be announced at the student awards ceremony at MS&T.

To be eligible to enter the contest you must submit your abstract to the symposium titled, 2022 Undergraduate Student Poster Contest. You will be asked to register and log in to submit your abstract(s). The deadline for abstract submissions to the Undergraduate Student Poster Contest is September 9, 2022.

• Sunday, October 9: Poster installation, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Monday, October 10: Poster installation, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
• Monday, October 10: Poster judging, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.; Poster judging with contestants, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 20: Poster removal, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Posters will be on display during the following times: October 10 from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m., October 11 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., and October 12 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

See below for the poster contest scoresheet, judging guide, and some tips on creating a technical poster.

Poster Scoresheet
Poster Judging Guide
Guide for Creating a Technical Poster

2022 Graduate Student Poster Contest
The purpose of the contest, open to current graduate students pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. degrees, is to recognize superior research performed during graduate study. Posters must be accepted for the MS&T technical program to be entered into the contest. Entries will be displayed in the general poster session.

If you are pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. degree and your poster abstract has been accepted into the MS&T technical program, you are eligible to enter. First, second, and third place prizes will be given in the amounts of $250, $150, and $100, respectively.

Graduate Student Poster contestants must be reported to Yolanda Natividad by September 9, 2022. Please note that you must have an accepted abstract for MS&T22 to be eligible. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Yolanda.

• Sunday, October 9: Poster installation, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Monday, October 10: Poster installation, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
• Monday, October 10: Poster judging, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.; Poster judging with contestants, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 20: Poster removal, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Posters will be on display during the following times: October 10 from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m., October 11 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., and October 12 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

*Graduate student posters will be displayed in the General Poster Session area.

AIST Student Plant Tour
Time: 12 p.m.- 4 p.m.

AIST will offer students the opportunity to tour a local steel plant. Students registered for MS&T22 before August 22, 2022, will be contacted by e-mail to sign up. Advance registration is required.

Stay tuned for more information!

AIST Foundation Steel to Students Recruiting Reception
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: The Westin Pittsburgh

Position yourself ahead of your peers by attending the Steel to Students Recruiting Reception held in conjunction with MS&T22! The reception is a golden opportunity to meet established professionals and hiring managers interested in investing in the next generation of the steel industry. Take advantage of the opportunity to network and maybe even secure an internship or job after graduation!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11

Ceramic Mug Drop Contest
Location: Exhibition Hall, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The Ceramic Mug Drop contest allows students to demonstrate their prowess in designing and manufacturing a ceramic mug possessing high strength, mechanical reliability, and/or aesthetics. Mugs fabricated by students from ceramic raw materials are judged (separately) on aesthetics and then by dropping them from ever-increasing heights. The mug with the highest successful drop height will win! Please note that students who chose to make fiber-reinforced mugs may use individual commercial fibers in the construction of their mug, but the use of commercially woven mats is not allowed. The Ceramic Mug Drop Contest is sponsored by Keramos. More details to come on the submission process and deadline.

Ceramic Disc Golf Contest
Location: Exhibition Hall, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Time: 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

This contest always draws a crowd! Students create discs from ceramic or glass materials to meet certain specifications, and the discs are thrown into a regulation disc golf basket. Each disc will be judged in the categories of farthest distance achieved and artistic merit (aesthetics). The disc that is successfully thrown into the disc golf basket from the farthest distance in the fewest number of shots will be named winner of the Ceramic Disc Golf Contest, and the most aesthetically pleasing/creative disc will be recorded as “Best Looking” disc.

The Ceramic Disc Golf Contest is sponsored by Keramos. More details to come on the submission process and deadline.

Student Awards Ceremony
Location: Exhibition Hall, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Time: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Congratulate the winners of this year’s contests: Material Advantage Chapters of Excellence, Student Speaking Contest, Graduate and Undergraduate Poster Contests, Ceramic Mug Drop Contest, Ceramic Disc Golf Contest, TMS Superalloys Awards, AIST/AISI Scholarships, and Keramos National Awards.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12

ACerS Student Tour
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Students will have the opportunity to attend a tour during the MS&T22 conference. The ACerS Student Tour is open to all MS&T22 student registrants and is free of charge. Space is limited and registration is on a first come, first served basis.

If you have any questions, please contact Yolanda Natividad. The tour is organized by ACerS President’s Council of Student Advisors (PCSA). More details to come!