The 2024 AIChE Annual Student Conference (ASC) is packed with incredible opportunities for students to develop professionally, compete, and network with peers and leaders in chemical engineering. Held from October 25-28, 2024, in San Diego, California, this event includes workshops, competitions, career fairs, and access to the AIChE Annual Meeting for a deeper dive into the field.
Here are some of the highlights you won’t want to miss:
Workshops
The 2024 conference offers a series of both career and student chapter workshops designed to enhance both your technical skills and leadership capabilities. Some not-to-be-missed workshops include:
- How to Build a Great Student Chapter: This featured session kicks off the 2024 AIChE ASC. Designed for students leading or participating in AIChE chapters, this workshop will provide insights on how to strengthen your chapter, engage members, and organize impactful events.
- Become a Chem-E-Car Hero: Best Practices in Chem-E-Car Safety and EDP Development Workshop: This workshop focuses on improving safety protocols and refining the engineering design process (EDP) for Chem-E-Car Competition® teams, helping them excel in both performance and safety.
Welcome breakfast and keynote address
Day two of the conference will officially kick off with the Welcome Breakfast and Keynote Address. The keynote speaker for this event is Michael Thien, Sc.D., Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Research & Development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. His address titled “Re-Imagining Chemical Engineering: Curriculum, Career, and Riding the Tiger” will focus on the evolution of chemical engineers and the profession.
This session will offer students insights that extend beyond chemical engineering and into essential professional growth.
Student competitions
The AIChE ASC is renowned for its exciting and educational competitions. Here are some of the major ones to watch out for:
- Chem-E-Car Competition®: In this hands-on event, teams design and build cars powered by chemical reactions. These vehicles are given two minutes to start, travel, and stop at a target distance. The specified distance is revealed to teams just one hour before they start, making this a favorite among students and spectators alike.
- ChemE Jeopardy Competition: This quiz-show-style competition pits teams against each other to test their knowledge of chemical engineering principles and trivia in a fun, high-energy environment.
- Undergraduate Student Poster Competition: One of the most prestigious events at the conference, this competition allows students to present their research to industry professionals and academic experts. A great opportunity for those considering graduate studies or industry careers, this competition highlights student innovation in chemical engineering.
- ChemE-Sports™ Competition: Teams test their engineering and problem-solving skills in this high-pressure, real-time simulation-based competition.
Leadership Luncheon
The Leadership Luncheon offers students an opportunity to hear from AIChE leaders and industry professionals, and network with fellow ChemE students. This event fosters discussions on leadership skills and career growth, providing attendees with the chance to build connections that may benefit their future careers.
Recruitment Fair
At the Recruitment Fair, students can meet with top companies looking to hire fresh talent. Bring your updated resume and take advantage of this event to learn about available internships and job openings, and to network with professionals from a wide range of industries.
Access to the AIChE Annual Meeting
When you register for the AIChE Annual Student Conference, your ticket includes complimentary access to sessions at the 2024 AIChE Annual Meeting. This is an incredible opportunity to attend sessions alongside professionals and learn about the latest research and trends in chemical engineering.
The 2024 AIChE Annual Student Conference is packed with opportunities to grow, compete, and network. From exciting competitions like Chem-E-Car to workshops that strengthen student chapters, this conference has something for everyone. Don’t miss this chance to engage with the chemical engineering community and take the next step towards your professional goals.