Education Committee

Bylaws

Updated April 2012

I. Objectives:

Continue to Market and Grow the Society for Experimental Mechanics in the areas of EM/ET Education and Training. Use EM/ET Publications including journals, proceedings, books, monographs, vendor partnerships and classroom materials to Market SEM. Monitor growth via New Membership, increased Meeting Participation, the SEM Student Paper Competition, the ET Education Feature Series, increased ET Advertising, Tutorials, co-sponsored TD’s, and Conference Sessions.

II. Outcomes and Subject Areas (2011):

• Chaired a ½ day Vendor Session. The intent is to create a forum for the vendors to share their expertise in both applying and operating equipment that they are showing in the Exhibits Hall and allow for a comprehensive Q&A segment of the session to exchange information. This action will take the involvement of the vendors in the growth of the society to a new level and should encourage additional exhibitors, and advertising revenue.
• Supported the Student Paper Competition (winning papers are peer reviewed and submitted for publication in ET).

III. Subject Areas Planned (2012):

• Plan to chair a ½ day Vendor Session.

IV. Suggested Focus Areas for 2012 and future years:

• Stay aligned with ET Feature Series and Education Focus.
• Support for regional, student SEM conferences.
• Consider organizing a pre-conference course or outreach event focused on teaching mechanics in K-12 education.  It could be used to provide demonstrations and lessons for teachers in the geographic area of the annual conference.  This is a long term goal that would require much planning, and the success of such an event will depend on the venue for the conference each year.

Additional thoughts regarding SEM Student Membership:

Work on innovative approaches for events to welcome our student attendees and members.

• Open to all new attendees especially the students.
• Meet the SEM Board members.
• Give a brief overview of SEM – its mission and members.