Members of the UW Society for Advancement of Material and Process Engineering gain hands-on experience designing, building — and even breaking — materials.

The team at the 2023 SAMPE Conference & Exhibition holding their bridge beams.

How do members of the Society for Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) spend their time in Wilcox Room 35? Not only designing and building composites — objects made of two or more materials — but breaking them as well!

“My favorite part about the club is that it is technical arts and crafts. There are serious design considerations, and a lot of science and complexity, that go into the composite beams, but day-to-day it's super hands-on. I enjoy making something cool and getting to test the designs,” says mechanical engineering undergraduate Ella Ramos-O'Neill, the team’s co-president.

To better understand the properties of composites, members create and test a variety of projects. In preparation for the annual SAMPE Conference & Exhibition, which includes a poster contest and three student competitions, including a bridge building contest, the team designs small beams made of different composites. During the bridge building competition, students test their beams in eight different categories. From natural fibers to glass, the categories span a substantial range of materials and construction methods. As a smaller club, the 15 members are also encouraged to experiment with their own composite projects. Currently, the newest members are experimenting by creating and stress testing composite ski poles to familiarize themselves with the process.

And while all members gain valuable hands-on experience with materials, leadership roles within the club provide a space to foster soft skills as well. Leadership roles vary, but Ramos-O’Neill finds they are a great way to strengthen “planning and team management, communication, financial literacy, time management, delegation and problem solving.” Leaders also take on responsibility for mentoring and assisting new members.

As a student chapter of a larger organization, SAMPE also offers networking opportunities. At the annual SAMPE Conference & Exhibition held May 20-23, students showcased their work while mingling with fellow students and industry professionals looking to hire students with material engineering experience. This year’s event was held in Long Beach, California.

While there is no minimum weekly time commitment, members are encouraged to attend at least an hour of meetings per week to stay in the loop about current projects. For those looking to dedicate more time, there are plenty of opportunities to take on leadership roles.

“We are a relatively small club and welcome people interested in being leads for beam teams or in more officer-type roles,” Ramos-O’Neill emphasizes. 

Team members run stress tests in preparation for the 2022 SAMPE Conference & Exhibition.