Written by: Oluwabunmi Iwakin, S.M.ASCE
Each year the EWRI WDSA Graduate Student Task Committee (GSTC) hosts an in-person social for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers attending the EWRI Congress, giving them a relaxed space to connect with the WDSA research community. This year’s Congress was held in Anchorage, Alaska - a city surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery. Immediately after the Congress “Welcome Reception” on Sunday, May 18, the WDSA GSTC gathered attendees at “The Broken Blender” cocktail bar, just a short walk from the conference venue. The social event gave graduate students and post-doctoral researchers a relaxed chance to keep networking after the Congress icebreaker event. WDSA GSTC treated everyone to a complimentary round of drinks, and the “Sunny Side” mocktail quickly became the crowd-pleasing favorite of the night.
With over 40 attendees at the social event, the WDSA GSTC also had the privilege of hosting other industry professionals and faculty members who supported us in attendance, contributing to the event's energetic and enjoyable atmosphere. The event also served as a welcoming occasion for graduate students who were new to the WDSA GSTC and wanted to learn about the committee's mission and activities. The relaxed format of the evening helped break the ice for new members and fostered a sense of camaraderie among attendees.
The WDSA GSTC would like to express its sincere gratitude to our sponsors for their contributions to the success of this event, whether financial or through their publicity support. We would also like to thank the EWRI Congress organizers, attendees, and the WDSA community at large for their continued support of graduate student events at the conferences and beyond.
While we aim to host more social events at future conferences, we hope to stay engaged with the community. The WDSA GSTC has several events lined up in the coming months, including virtual meetups, technical webinars, and tutorials from some of the leading voices within the WDSA community. If you would like to contribute or collaborate with the WDSA GSTC on our future events, please reach out to the committee chair, Oluwabunmi Iwakin, or vice-chair, Nazia Raza, for more details.
