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What is the SDC?

Compete against over 30 teams from universities across the US and around the world

Goal: Design a complex tall building model made from balsa wood that will be tested on a shaking table

Judged upon:

Oral design presentation
Summary poster
Model’s architectural design
Ability to fit within the design criteria and constraints
Analytical prediction of their model performance
Response of their model during shaking table testing

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Objectives of the SDC

Promote the study of earthquake engineering among undergraduate students.
Provide civil engineering undergraduate students with an opportunity to work on a hands-on project designing and constructing a cost-effective frame building to resist seismic loading.
Promote EERI activities among civil engineering students as well as the general public, and to encourage international participation in these activities.

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Stats for 2023 SDC

19 SLC members representing 13 universities

34 competing teams from 9 countries across 5 continents, and from 13 U.S. states

Over 4,500 total live stream views

over 370 students

6 financial sponsors

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What is the SLC?

Mission:

To serve as an active student earthquake engineering community for sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences, and promoting education
Help students to develop leadership and interpersonal skills, while gaining practical experience within earthquake engineering fields
Represent home EERI student chapters and have the opportunity to positively impact other EERI student chapters

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Student Leadership Council 2024

CO-PRESIDENTS

SECRETARY

Nancy Ingabire Abayo

North Carolina State University

TREASURER

Kate Rhoades

University of Colorado Boulder

Alanna Joachim

Stanford University

Aditya Jhunjhunwala

UC Davis

LEAD SDC CHAIR

Gustavo Araújo

Stanford University

Pratiksha Dhakal

Virginia Tech

Charlie Zhang

UC San Diego

Kayla Sorenson

Portland State University

Ahmed Gamal

Politecnico di Milano

SDC CHAIRS

SHAKE TABLE OPERATOR

Jose Caisapanta

UC Davis

OUTREACH UNIVERSITY

Morgan Sanger

University of Washington

Arka Maity

UC Davis

Tanner Field

Oregon State University

WEBMASTERS / SDC CHAIRS

Mohsen Akhani

The University of Memphis

Casey Rodgers

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

OUTREACH CHAIRS

Mostafa Mohammed

Arab Academy for Science

Amy Metz

Oregon State University

Mohammed Ibrahim

McMaster University

Julio Samayoa

North Carolina State University

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How do we start?

Establish an EERI student chapter
Establish an undergraduate seismic design team
Generate interest

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Establish a graduate EERI Chapter

Steps:

Gain interest! (Advertise, hold an informational meeting for Master’s and PhD students, etc)
Review Student Chapter Authorization and Regulations for details on requirements and your application
Submit a formal application using the online EERI Student Chapter Application Form.
Wait for formal approval of your Student Chapter from EERI

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Establish a graduate EERI Chapter

Application must be a single PDF including:

Cover letter to EERI stating the Chapter qualifications

A letter confirming university endorsement of the club/organization

A list of the proposed Faculty Advisor(s) and Contact Member(s)

A list of at least six (6) active EERI student members and proposed

Chapter Officers

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After EERI Graduate Chapter approval:

During the first year of establishment of your Chapter, you should:

Establish rules and elect officers. Send EERI your list of officers once ready, or when you send your annual report.
Review Chapter Best Practices for good ideas about chapter activities and governance.
Send EERI an annual report about chapter activities by June 1st. You can view the report template with the required information at the Annual Report Submission web page.

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Establish a Seismic Design Team:

Steps:

For completely new teams:

Ask a member of the faculty to help advise the club
Complete an interest form in the beginning of the school year which will be published by the SLC

For teams restarting from previous years:

Ask a member of the faculty to help advise the club - preferably one that has advised previous teams
Discuss with your department how club funding will work and how it has worked in the past

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Generate interest and recruit members:

Tips:

Advertise using pictures and videos from past competitions (can be found online at SLC website)
Utilize club fairs to your advantage
Target undergrads (go into relevant classes and talk about the team quickly for 5 minutes - anyone can help!)
Reach out to other majors and disciplines to get more members and help distribute work (architecture, mechanical engineering, etc)

Do not need tons of members (approx 3-5 members can be enough if well organized!)