HKN NATIONAL STUDENT CONFERENCE
For more details click here
2010 HKN Student Conference
Hosted by - University of Oklahoma, Beta Xi chapter
Number of chapter members attended - 4
Dates - November 5-7, 2010
Theme - "Engineering in a Multidisciplinary World"
Report
Participants from HKN Epsilon Xi Chapter
• Ashan Amaranayake – President
• Savindra Brandigampala – Treasurer
• Rowshon Jahan Papri – Corresponding Secretary
• Nikki Yodo – Recording Secretary
Interesting Events
• University of Oklahoma just built a couple new buildings. One of them where we
had our first gathering is called Devon energy center. The purpose of that building
is to create community which means any major can go there and meet anybody in order
to interact and share knowledge. Building has lots of open space and windows to promote
interaction.
• We met Dr. Jerry Crain who is an alumnus from Wichita State University. He played
football for WSU for 4 years.
• HKN LEGO Mindstorm Sumo-Bot Competition. Each team consists of 3-4 members from
different chapter, so all of us are in different team. This widens our network and
our communication skill since we got to know other people.
• We visited National Weather Center where data of weather are gathered and analyzed.
And also from NWC, weather data are distributed.
• They have a hanging globe where past 30 months weather data from around the world
is displayed by 4 projectors. Data are stitched together but resolution is different.
• We had a discussion session regarding how we can improve our own chapter. The session
required members from different chapters to sit down on one table and discuss.
What We Learn from The Conference?
• HKN and IEEE have not fully merged yet. They actually waiting for decision from
Supreme Court in New York.
• The reason HKN merged with IEEE is because HKN has financial problem where revenue
did not increase. That implies that cost increased but it was not balanced by increase
in revenue. Besides that poor communication between the board members contributes
to the downfall of HKN.
• Once you are inducted as HKN member, you are forever part of the society. But you
have to pay yearly subscription fee of IEEE in order to be considered as active member.
• Finish project at timely manner at the same time meet the requirements require
simplicity.
• Patient and tolerance toward team member are needed in order to improve teamwork.
• Although it is not an important project, once you are in a team, try not to let
your team member down.
• Seriousness is important, but it will only produce good result if we balanced it
with fun. In order words, too serious or too much fun will be destructive for any
project.
• Government people works in NWC. That is why they have bullet-proof and dust-free
windows.
• The closest tornado NWC ever had is around 500 yards away from the building.
• Weather forecasting is made by using model and statistical data. Statistics play
a big role in it.
• NWC is currently using phased array radar (AN/SPY-1A) that was previously used
in US Navy. The reason is it is faster than disk radar and can detect certain area
of interest.
• There are companies exist to help entrepreneurs to start a company. The one presented
in our conference is called I2E. Their website is: http://www.i2e.org.
Achievements
• We got runner-up in HKN LEGO Mindstorm Sumo-Bot Competition
Report written by Nikki Yodo
Summary
Nov 5th :
We went there around 5pm.
From 7:30-9:30pm we had a little mixer. We had dinner. They asked all of us to form diverse groups (Students from different universities) of 3s or 4s. Then they gave each team lego box kind of things and asked us to make a sumobot (Robot sumo player) by Sunday.
We also met OU HKN advisor. He was thrilled to meet us, because he said he did him BSc in WSU.
Nov 6th :
This was a bit hectic day. We had activities from 8am-8:30pm.
There were several lecture going on throughout the day. So, I'll just tell you some of the interesting things.
Representatives from National Instruments came. They were actually sponsoring for this Sumobot Competition as well. They helped everyone with programming the Robot. They talked about internships etc. Also they gave free LabView Software for all the students.
I asked them if it is possible for them to come to WSU if we have some kind of a workshop. They said that they can do that. But I am not quite sure how much it really cost. I got the email anyways. It is worth checking.
Then we had a Chapter Development Session. All the Chapters Shared what they do to improve their Chapters. (OU provided a hard copy of all the ideas we discussed. I will try to make copies and give you that)
- One of the best things I learned was that $60 is not a fixed membership amount. We can charge any amount greater than $40. Some Chapters charge $50 and some charge $105. So I think we can charge $75 from all the new inductees this time and give them HKN T'shirt. In that way they would not know that they are paying for the t'shirts and they will be happy to get a "free" t'shirt.
- Then, we should give new inductees a requirement to fulfill before the initiation.
I know that WSU TBP Chapter does that. In that way students will be more active in
the Chapter.
Just think how many members did we see after the initiation and how many do you think
even recognizes us? VERY FEW.
So I am thinking if we send all the inductees a signature sheet. (See the attachment). They have to meet the officers in person and get to know.
- There was a representative from IEEE as well. She explained about this IEEE HKN merger. Since they are officially merged all the new HKN inductees (who are not current IEEE members) will be considered as IEEE members for 1 year. After that they have to pay the normal IEEE annual charge to keep their IEEE membership. But, Current IEEE members won't be benefit with this merger. They all have to follow the same old technique to keep their memberships.
Nov 7th :
We had the sumobot competition. Nikki and his group won the second place.
That concluded the conference.
Summary written by Savindra Brandigampala
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------