IJMC-FEF Student Research Competition

 
Student Research Competition

 

Abstracts due Feb. 16, 2024 // Presentations due March 15, 2024


The IJMC/FEF Student Research Competition empowers top undergraduate college students to showcase their metalcasting research projects at Metalcasting Congress. Winners earn scholarships and are published in the International Journal of Metalcasting. All submissions are judged by a leading panel comprised of the AFS Research Board and officers of the AFS Technical Council. Up to $4,000 in total scholarships will be awarded.
 




Presentation details & Guidelines

  • Entries consist of narrated PowerPoint presentations reflecting a student’s or group’s research. Presentations must include: Abstract, Introduction, Objectives, Testing Methodology, Results, Conclusions, and References.
  • Narration should be recorded in PowerPoint and explain the project and its conclusions as presented in the slides, similar to a live research presentation.
  • Students must use the PowerPoint template provided at www.afsinc.org/ijmc-fef-student-research-competition.
  • Select entrants will be invited to showcase their projects live on the show floor at Metalcasting Congress 2024 on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Milwaukee, WI. Students will field questions from judges.
  • Submit your presentation title, abstract, and names of participating students no later than Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Final presentations are due no later than Friday, March 15, 2024. Submit abstracts and presentation PowerPoints to bwallace@afsinc.org. Please include participant names, project title, and college/university in your email message.

Qualifications

  • Open to North American citizens who are undergraduate students currently enrolled in metalcasting-related programs.
  • Applicants must be registered with FEF, have a current student membership with AFS, and be enrolled in the current academic year.
  • Entries must represent current or recent undergraduate-level work performed by the student(s) in metalcasting technology or molten metal processing.
  • Group projects are permitted. Each student may enter only one submission. Groups will split scholarship money.
  • All presenting students must register and attend Metalcasting Congress 2024 (April 23-25, 2024) in Milwaukee, WI. Metalcasting Congress registration is complimentary for student members. Students must be available for presentations and a live Q&A with judges at Metalcasting Congress on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.


If you have questions, please email Bo Wallace, AFS Senior Technical Associate, at bwallace@afsinc.org.
 

Judging Criteria Points
Technical Content: Completeness of work, interpretation of work, and results, analysis, discussion, references/bibliography. Sufficiency of data to validate conclusions. 40
Relevance: Industry Involvement with the research and applicability to the metalcasting industry. 30
Innovation: Originality of ideas, concepts or approach.       20
Presentation: Overall style is effective. Information is concise and logically organized. 10
Total                                         100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

2023 WINNERS

1st place

  • Jenna Van Hoogstraten, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, “The Effect of Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Physical Properties of Hypereutectic Al-Ce Alloys”

2nd place (tie)

  • Keaton Allen, Missouri S&T, “Loss of Kinetic Zone Pressure Causes Mold Wall Collapse During Filling Across a Glue Joint in Lost Foam Casting”
  • Jacob O’Dell and Josh Kowalsky, University of Northern Iowa, “Measuring Curing Effectiveness of Chemically Bonded Sand Molds”