Prior to attending Structures Congress in Orlando, I had yet to participate in a convention that was sanctioned by a nationally recognized engineering organization.  Consequently, in the weeks and months leading up to the event, I had no set of expectations. However, after investigating the schedule of technical presentations, social events, and plenary speakers, I anticipated that a significant number of learning and networking opportunities would be available to students, young professionals, and senior members alike. As I summarize my experience, I was undoubtedly correct.

One day after landing in central Florida, I participated in the Student and Young Professional Scholarship Recipient Orientation as well as the Student Scholarship committee meeting thereafter.  These congregations were composed of intelligent, dedicated, and hard-working individuals whose passion for structural engineering is truly inspiring. Throughout the convention, I interacted with these people, learned about their respective experiences and professional plans, and most importantly, developed priceless connections.

Each technical meeting, panel discussion, and keynote speaker provided a unique set of topics that could prove extremely beneficial as I move towards professional practice. The presentation titled Science Not Communicated is Science Not Done was particularly valuable, as it focused on how to cultivate audience attention through implementing appropriate presentation tactics and constructing clear, succinct slides. The preparatory steps necessary to ensure effective communication are independent of the topic being introduced. Therefore, the lessons from this presentation can be translated to bid proposals, project meetings, or technical seminars I may host in the future.

The lectures that concentrated on engineering themes were intriguing as well. Over the course of three days, I vastly enhanced my knowledge on (1) accelerated bridge construction, (2) methods to facilitate the inspection and analysis of deteriorated concrete bridge elements, (3) how to approach and overcome certain problematic constraints when designing structures, and (4) the importance of structural engineering and the opportunities available to individuals boasting a structural background. To elaborate on the latter, keynote speaker Dr. Anthony Atala discussed his ongoing research on regenerative medicine and cited the field of structural engineering for disseminating information vital to his work. While Dr. Atala's speech opened my eyes to the importance of our work as structural engineers, the seminars throughout the conference bolstered my technical knowledge. 

I would like to express my thanks to the SEI Futures Fund and their generous scholarship offer. I had the chance to network with enthusiastic students, young professionals, and structural engineers. Therefore, I was able to develop invaluable relationships while being simultaneously exposed to trailblazing ideas and methods that may have a significant impact on the state of the discipline in the future. My sincerest gratitude goes to anyone who funded or arranged this scholarship. This was an experience I will never forget, and I plan on attending many more SEI conferences in the future. 

Adam Werntz, EIT
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.S. Structural Engineering