Building Community with ‘ME Connects’

While this academic year has seen many faculty and students separated physically by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Mechanical Engineering is taking steps to ensure its community feels closer than ever.

Launched during Winter Quarter, the ME Connects virtual presentation series builds connectivity between mechanical engineering students, faculty, staff, advisory board members, and alumni, while promoting Northwestern undergraduate student groups featuring a strong department presence. During each 30-minute Zoom event, student leaders deliver short talks about their organizations, followed by an interactive discussion with attendees.

“It has been important to build a strong department community during this challenging year,” said Wei Chen, Wilson-Cook Professor in Engineering Design and chair of mechanical engineering. “These presentations spotlight student groups led by our students, which will help them recruit new members, increase awareness amongst faculty, and spark dialogue between faculty and students and the rest of our community.”

The series kicked off in February with a presentation by Sophia Wong (’22) and Daniel Oh (’22), president and vice president, respectively, of the Advisory Council of Mechanical Engineering Students (ACME). Wong and Oh discussed how ACME fosters connection between the department and mechanical engineering students by delivering feedback to leadership constructively, creating an environment that promotes unity and positions students for success.

By bringing together the department community, ME Connects reinforces the importance that student groups play in enriching the learning experience of Northwestern mechanical engineers.

“Highlighting the varied ways that students can get involved is important,” said Robert Shaw (’70, KSM '81), chair of the mechanical engineering department's advisory board. “Much of their education comes from outside the classroom. The teamwork and management skills they gain are important parts of their education.”

Other ME Connects presentations included:

• Paulina Robles (’21) and Sam Petralia (’21), co-presidents of Northwestern University Robotics Club, presented the group’s mission to develop a community of student builders interested in robotics, and the student-led projects and competitions open to members. Watch
• James Slattery (’21), project manager for Northwestern Baja SAE, described the organization’s goal to inspire innovative automotive design, forge marketable leadership and technical skills, and build a close-knit community while designing and building a competitive off-road vehicle.
• Alejandra Almonte (’23) and Yerim Lee (’22), president and vice president, respectively, of Northwestern’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter, discussed their work informing students of career opportunities and promoting ways for students, professors, and professionals to apply classroom knowledge to industry applications. Watch
• Hannah Cohen (’21) and Maddy Ward, members of Northwestern's Design for America chapter, discussed their work with community partners in Evanston and Chicago as well as national partners to create solutions using the human-centered design process. Watch
• Ishaan Narain (’22) and Joey Nikac (’22), members of NUSolar, spotlighted how the group promotes innovative and sustainable transportation developments through successive generations of composite-based, high efficiency vehicle designs, which compete yearly against collegiate teams from around the world. Watch
• Brittany Taylor (’21), co-president of Northwestern University Space Technology and Rocketry Society (NUStars), described the group's four sub-teams and different aerospace projects they are currently working on. Watch

For more information about upcoming lectures, please contact Manohar Kulkarni, assistant chair and clinical full professor of mechanical engineering.