Michigan Tech's AIChE Student Chapter
Activities
General Meetings
A number of general meetings are held for our student chapter every semester. There are usually guest speakers at these meetings from chemical engineering companies or other institutions involved with chemical engineering. The focus of our general meetings are to help chemical engineering students learn about various aspects of the chemical engineering field along with developing skills for finding internships, co-ops, and jobs. We also discuss activities that the chapter is doing at each general meeting. Pizza and pop are usually served at every general meeting.
MTU AIChE Chem-E Car
Our student chapter has been participating in the AIChE ChemE Car competition for the past few years. The current model, MTU ChemE Car 4, is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell that was donated to the team by Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) of the United States Army, and the car is stopped by the tripping of a light sensor monitoring an iodine-starch color changing reaction. The MTU ChemE Car team is currently part of the Alternative Fuels Group Enterprise that the Michigan Tech Chemical Engineering Department heads. Below are the results that the MTU ChemE Car team has had:
| Competition | Location | Place Taken |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Regional | U. of Wisconsin - Madison | 2nd |
| 2001 National | Reno, Nevada | 9th |
| 2002 Regional | U. of Michigan - Ann Arbor | 1st |
| 2002 National | Indianapolis, Indiana | 5th |
| 2003 Regional | Michigan Tech University | 4th |
| 2003 National | San Francisco, California | TBD Nov. 16 |
Plant Trips
Each semester, our chapter tries to have a plant trip to a chemical engineering facility in the area. We have visited companies close by like Peninsula Copper, Inc. but have also gone to Wisconsin to visit companies like 3M. The trips are usually free of charge and require a day away from classes.
Fundraisers
Beyond the money we receive from chapter dues, our chapter raises money each year for various activities that the chapter wants to do. Every fall, we sell Perry's Chemical Engineering Handbooks to the senior chemical engineering students at a reduced cost compared to buying them at the Campus bookstore or online. These handbooks are needed for the senior chemical engineering classes. During Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival, we have sold food of some kind to raise money for the chapter. We are always open to new suggestions as well.
Senior Mock Awards
Every spring at the department convocation, our chapter gives out mock awards to the graduating seniors. Seniors within the chapter figure out awards to give out to other seniors for various things that happened throughout their senior year in chemical engineering.