Luke Edwards's Conference Summary

     Luke Edwards
     Ph.D. Student
     Applied Mathematics GIDP

     Conference Summary
     18th U.S. National Congress for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
     Chicago, IL

I used the Carter travel award to attend the 18th U.S. National Congress for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (USNC/TAM) in Chicago, Illinois. The primary purpose of my travel was to attend and present my work in the session titled ˜Hypersonic Transition". The session contained a number of talks both directly and tangentially related to my work and the work of my research group at the UofA. Through the presentation of my own research, I was able to get invaluable feedback on both the work itself as well as my style of presentation.
My attendance at USNC/TAM also served several purposes related to furthering my academic and professional career. The first was simply to gain exposure for my research and its significance in the broader community. It is incredibly rewarding to see audiences at meetings of this kind slowly become familiar with your work and express interest in the questions that it seeks to address. The meeting also served as a means to familiarize myself with the most recent work of my colleagues at other institutions. Understanding the direction of the field as reflected in the work of others is critical for maintaining research objectives that address the needs and interests of the community at large.  
My experience at USNC/TAM was rewarding both intellectually and professionally and I'm grateful for the Carter travel award for having afforded me the opportunity to attend.