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&T in person can apply for a US$500 Material Advantage Chapter Travel Grant! Your 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.

Please click here to register by September 13, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Young.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2024

ACerS Keramos Convocation & Business Meeting

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, 17th Floor, Monongahela

Chapter Officer Workshop – FOR CHAPTER OFFICERS ONLY

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: The Westin Hotel, Allegheny Ballroom 1

Network and share best practices! This year’s Chapter Officer Workshop will take place on Sunday, October 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 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.

Please click here to register by September 22, 2024.

Contact Drew Fleming for more information.

ACerS Keramos Career Speaker

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, 17th Floor, Monongahela

2024 Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest

Semi-Final One Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; The Westin Hotel, Allegheny Ballroom 2&3
Semi-Final Two Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; The Westin Hotel, Allegheny Ballroom 2&3
Final Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; The Westin Hotel, Allegheny Ballroom 1

Come showcase your presentation skills by making a short technical presentation about an aspect of materials science and engineering that you find exciting. Presentations can be based upon work that you have done in a class or internship, or simply on a technical topic that interests you.

Interested in participating but unsure what to present? Use this as a conversation starter with your favorite professor!

Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest Rules (PDF)
Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest Scoresheet (PDF)
2024 Undergraduate Student Speaking Contest Application (Word)

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.

Up to two students per school may participate. MS&T speaking contestants must be reported to Lori Houghton by September 20, 2024. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Lori.

Student Networking Reception

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Westin Hotel, Allegheny Ballroom 1

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 and faculty advisors. No tickets or reservations are required. Please note that an MS&T conference attendee badge is required to enter the reception.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2024

IGNITE MSE Professional Development Symposium

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: TBD

This symposium is designed to provide students and early career professionals with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to succeed in their careers. By bringing together experts from both academia and industry, this symposium offers a unique opportunity for participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field and the diverse career paths available to them. Invited speakers will discuss topics such as professional skills for global environments, determining if you are best suited for academia or industry based upon your professional and personality traits, and how to engage in STEM outreach. Those who attend the IGNITE MSE Symposium will receive an invitation to a reception at a local Hot Glass Studio to network with professionals in the field while enjoying hot glass demonstrations.

AIST Student Plant Tour

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works; Depart from David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1st Floor East Lobby

MS&T24 student registrants will have the opportunity to tour Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works in Butler, Pennsylvania. Limited spots are available and advance registration is required.

Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works is located in western Pennsylvania. The facility produces electrical, stainless and carbon steels. Butler Works is the only steel mill in North America that produces both Grain Oriented Electrical Steel (GOES) and Non-Oriented Electrical Steel (NOES). GOES is used in distribution and power transformers and NOES is used in the most efficient electric motors.

IGNITE MSE Career Panel Luncheon

Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: TBD

This luncheon will feature a career panel with engaging speakers from industry and academia. Students will have the opportunity to ask the panel questions about their career choices and seek advice about how to succeed in their careers.

Resume Coaching Workshop

Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 415

The key to securing an internship or job after graduation is a great resume! All MS&T24 student registrants will have the opportunity to attend this free workshop and receive advice from an industry hiring professional. Perfecting your resume will ensure you have a better chance at standing out from other candidates and easily earning an interview with their desired employer.

Limited spots are available and advance registration is required. RSVP now.

Navigating U.S. Immigration: Overcoming a Barrier for Materials Professionals Workshop

Time: 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Location David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 403

How does the U.S. immigration system impact your career in materials science? Join us for a workshop featuring an overview presentation delving into the U.S. immigration process by an immigration lawyer, supplemented by firsthand stories from immigrant materials engineers, followed by an interactive panel discussion. This event welcomes individuals from all corners of materials science and engineering—whether you're a student, a seasoned professional, or a manager navigating the U.S. immigration process yourself or supporting colleagues through it. This event is presented by the TMS Professional Development Committee. There is no charge to attend, and no advance registration is required.

AIST Foundation Steel to Students Recruiting Reception

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location The Westin Hotel, Pennsylvania Ballroom

Position yourself ahead of your peers by attending the Steel to Students Recruiting Reception held in conjunction with MS&T24! 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 8, 2024

2024 Undergraduate Student Poster Contest

Judges Only Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Judges and Students Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

The purpose of this contest is to encourage graduate students to present their graduate research experiences and to improve their communication skills. The poster entered must be the work of a graduate student and completed during the graduate 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 or a summer internship.

First, second, and third places will be given in the amounts of $250, $150, and $100, respectively. All graduate 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, 2024 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 6, 2024.

Please do not submit the same abstract to more than one symposium for MS&T24. This means an abstract which has already been submitted to MS&T24 in a symposium (for oral or poster presentation) cannot also be submitted to this poster contest. An abstract can only be presented once during MS&T24.

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

2024 Graduate Student Poster Contest

Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

To be eligible to enter the contest you must submit your abstract to the symposium titled, 2024 Graduate Student Poster Contest. You will be asked to register and log in to submit your abstract(s). The deadline for abstract submissions to the Graduate Student Poster Contest is September 6, 2024.

Graduate Student Poster Schedule

Tuesday, October 8: Poster Installation, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, October 8: Poster Judging, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Poster Judging with Contestants, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 9: Poster Removal, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 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

Ceramic Mug Drop Contest

Time: 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.
Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

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.

2024 Ceramic Mug Drop Contest Rules.

Each participant may register their mug(s) onsite.

Ceramic Disc Golf Contest

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

The Ceramic Disc Golf 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.

2024 Ceramic Disc Golf Contest Rules.

Each participant may register their disc(s) onsite.

Student Awards Ceremony

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Time: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

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 Steel Intern Scholarships, and Keramos National Awards.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024

ACerS Student Tour

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Omni William Penn Hotel, Lobby