Student Chapter members discussing acoustics

The Student Chapter of the Acoustical Society of America at The University of Texas at Austin is comprised of students who are working towards a degree with a specialization in acoustics, as well as students who are simply interested in acoustics. Though most members of the ASA Student Chapter are graduate students, undergraduate students are welcome to attend meetings and events.

For information please visit:
http://sites.utexas.edu/asa-student-chapter

Graduate Skills Seminars

Graduate student Anthony Bonomo gives a presentation on Modeling Acoustic Scattering Problems Using COMSOL Multiphysics in a Graduate Skills Seminar

Throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, the student chapter sponsors Graduate Skills Seminars. Graduate Skills Seminars are 30 minute presentations given by graduate students in Acoustics that highlight important research topics and technical skills they feel are needed to be successful at the graduate level. The main focus of these seminars is to connect students with specific skills, and to encourage communication among the academic community.

Some examples of past Graduate Skills Seminars include:

• Finite Elements Modeling and COMSOL Multiphysics
• Signal Processing in MATLAB
• Plotting and Image Processing in MATLAB
• Mathematics of Acoustics Overview
• Metamaterials Introduction
• MEMS and other Acoustics Applications and more!

An archive of past presenters’ materials can be found on the Graduate Skills Seminar page on the student chapter website.

Acoustical “Ask Me Anything”

Acoustical “Ask Me Anything”
at ASA Student Chapter meeting

During Student Chapter meetings, a guest in the field of Acoustics is invited to speak with students about their pursuits in acoustics. Students are welcome to ask the invited guests any questions they’d like about their experience in acoustics. Invited guests have been graduates from the university now working in the industry, acoustical engineers, research scientists and many more. To see abstracts from past speakers please visit the student chapter website.

Community Involvement and Student Chapter Outreach Activities

Outreach activities are organized social events where members of the student chapter go out to local schools, club meetings, etc. and perform acoustical demos for children and the public to inspire the pursuit of science. In recent years, student chapter members have performed acoustical demos for children and adults at local elementary schools, girl scout meetings, and University of Texas sponsored events such as Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day and Explore UT. Some of the featured demos include Chladni Plates, Whirly Tube, Sympathetic Resonators, and tours of the university’s Anechoic Chamber. At outreach events, student chapter members perform demos like these while explaining the science behind them to children and observers. The student chapter believes one of their most important roles as young scientists is to encourage science and science literacy among the population, especially local youth. The student chapter provides these experiences free of charge in hopes of inspiring young children to pursue science and to spread basic knowledge of acoustics.