UB to host Upstate New York ASCE Student Conference

On April 14, 2016, ASCE chapters from 14 universities will be arriving at the University at Buffalo with their concrete canoes, steel bridges, and technical presentations. The students have been working on these projects all year and will be competing in a several events over the three-day conference. Conference highlights include the following events.

On Thursday, the Mead Paper/Technical writing presentations will take place at the University at Buffalo's Student Union Theater. Chapters who participate in this competition will have an opportunity to move on to the national level. This competition is judged based on students' written papers as well as oral presentation skills.

On Friday, April 15, the steel bridge competition will be held in University at Buffalo's Alumni Arena. These bridges are judged based on overall strength, aggregate weight, and construction speed. Teams assemble the bridges, and then test their rigidity by performing a load test. The top two teams from the region will move onto the national competition, which will be taking place in Provo, Utah this May.

On Saturday, April 16, the Concrete Canoe races will begin bright and early on Lake La Salle on University at Buffalo's North Campus. A handful of students from each school brave enough to face Buffalo's weather will suit up in wet suits. They will be competing in Women’s Sprint and Endurance races, Men’s Sprint and Endurance, and Co-ed races. Teams will be judged on final product, design report, presentation, and paddling, each weighing 25% of their final score. Nationals will take place in Tyler, Texas this June.

As always, there will be some friendly competition to take home the honor this year. The conference will conclude on Saturday evening with an awards ceremony and dinner banquet at the Buffalo/Niagara Marriott. In addition to the competition, visitors will experience Buffalo's rich culture, through scavenger hunts, mystery events, and local foods.

University at Buffalo ASCE is honored to host the Upstate New York ASCE and proud to represent UB engineering. The Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge Design teams have been working hard all year to finalize their respected projects.

The public is invited to join the UB-ASCE for a fun-filled event. Please come for part or all of the weekend to support your alma mater! An alumni event will be held Saturday, April 16 to cheer on the concrete canoe races!  For more information, please email the conference chair, Adrianne Richardson.

This story was reprinted from the Spring 2016 issue of UB ASCE Review.