MechE Student Organizations
The Mechanical Engineering Department hosts a large number of active student groups.
BU Branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the principal society for the aerospace profession, providing for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge of the theory and practice of the aeronautical and astronautical sciences. BU’s chapter of the AIAA is a small, collegiate level branch of the national chapter. AIAA hosts industry and academic speakers, contests and general meetings catered towards the aerospace and aeronautical fields. Their primary goal is to raise awareness among undergraduates about the opportunities and advances in the aerospace community.
BU Racing - Formula SAE
Boston University Racing is a student-run formula racing group focused on developing a fully-electric racing vehicle. As a group which operates by the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers rulebook, our design process is safety oriented and highly focused on learning. In preparation for industry, BU racing strives to improve students’ skills in both engineering and teamwork.
BU Student Chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers is dedicated to advancing the profession of mechanical engineering. More than 100,000 regular members and 250 student sections are active at all levels of almost every segment of business, industry, education, and government. Membership in the student section brings students into contact with practicing engineers through technical meetings with guest speakers, field trips to local industries, and regional and national society functions, including the regular meetings of the Boston section of ASME. Upon graduation, student members can become associate members of the society.
BU Rocket Propulsion Group
BU Rocket Propulsion Group, originally established in 2003 as the BU Rocket Team, is an undergraduate student organization devoted to research and development of hybrid rocket motors. With a diverse background in majors from Engineering to Management, members of BURPG use innovative and effective approaches to tackle some of the greatest challenges in aerospace.
Members set their own deadlines, track their progress, report findings and encourage each other almost daily. The design process goes from chalkboard and CAD drawings to machining and assembling by testing the untapped engineering skills of each member.
BU Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Team (UAV)
BU UAV Team, is an engineering student group focused on the emerging future of drones. We are continually advancing our active projects such as obstacle avoidance, creating more efficient drones, and improving the way in which we control our vehicles. Furthermore, with the help of our members and alumni, BU UAV wishes to expand its team and fleet to include a wider variety of students and vehicles.
BU Design Community
Design Community is a student organization centered on providing events in the fields of design, art, engineering, communication, business, and manufacturing. We try to provide informative events that educate students in areas not often taught in class such as sketching, ideation, prototyping, and fabricating. The Design Community club doesn’t really have a central project; we work under the principle that by hosting engaging speakers, students will be able to apply what they have learned to their own projects. We also have other events besides speakers, including design competitions, portfolio week, and movies.
BU Energy Club
BU Energy Club is made up of Undergrads, Grads and Alumni from broad-based multi-disciplinary backgrounds. The club serves as a link between scientists & engineers, entrepreneurs & business-persons, and aspiring policy-makers & government officials in the Greater Boston Area. We advance understanding of energy and it’s role within society, industry, technology and policy through education and outreach.
BU Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)
BU Students for the Exploration and Development of Space is an organization dedicated to celebrating enthusiasm about space. Though BU SEDS is organized through the college of engineering, we are not an engineer specific group and encourage membership from students of all backgrounds.
Pi Tau Sigma Honor Society
Pi Tau Sigma is the international mechanical engineering honor society. The objectives of this society are to encourage and recognize the achievements of undergraduate students in mechanical engineering, to foster high ideals in the engineering profession, to develop leadership and citizenship, to stimulate and support departmental activities, and to honor practicing engineers for distinguished technical attainments.
Sigma Gamma Tau Honor Society
Sigma Gamma Tau is the honor society for Aerospace Engineering. The objective of the society is to recognize and honor those individuals in the field of aeronautics and astronautics who have, through scholarship, integrity, and outstanding achievement, been a credit to their profession. The society seeks to foster a high standard of ethics and professional practice and to create a spirit of loyalty and fellowship, particularly among students of aerospace engineering.
Society of Automotive Engineers - BAJA Team
SAE comprises 50,000 engineers and scientists working together to advance the field of mobility. With their diverse educational backgrounds, members are dedicated to furthering the research, development, design, manufacture, and utilization of land, sea, air, and space vehicles.
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
This professional society stimulates research and disseminates knowledge in all phases of manufacturing engineering. Student members participate in field trips, technical seminars, and lecture series, and are upgraded automatically to regular society membership one year after graduation. This year SME hosted a guest speaker Bill Harding from GE. They had successful company tours and Egg Drop event. SME closed the academic year 2008-2009 with a Department Dinner.