ASA Student Chapter

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 website: http://sites.utexas.edu/grad-skills-seminar

After every presentation, students participate in a q&a with the presenter.

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 asIntroduce a Girl to Engineering Day and Explore UT. Some of the featured demos include Chladni Plates, Sound Hose, Tuning Forks, and tours of UT’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.

For more information on Austin ASA Student Chapter, visit their website at:

sites.utexas.edu/asa-student-chapter