Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER)

Students Test Engineering Skills in 2nd Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition

The Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) does outreach programs to further the National Science Foundation's goal of preparing a diverse group of future leaders of the country's scientific community.

MCEER, an Engineering Research Center based at the University at Buffalo, hosted its second annual Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition this year to give students a chance to put their learning to the test. Teams made balsa wood structures that were subjected to large simulated earthquakes. Each structure was scored on its seismic performance, construction cost, workmanship, and architecture.

Four teams of undergraduate students participated in the competition held in the Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory at the University at Buffalo. The UB team beat out students from Florida A&M University, University of Nevada-Reno, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The winning team went on to compete in the Tri-Center competition held in conjunction with the 8th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering in San Francisco. The UB/MCEER team placed first in the seismic performance category and finished third overall among the eight participating teams.

To learn more about this topic:
Visit the MCEER Education page at http://mceer.buffalo.edu/education/default.asp.

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Students compete to design balsa wood models
that best withstand earthquake-like conditions in
annual contest held by the Multidisciplinary Center
for Earthquake Engineering Research.

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Last modified: April 11, 2007