NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS-GERMANY

Under this program members of NSBE Aachen will be placed in groups of two and be given a period of time to research and write on engineering problem statements and formulate solution and project implementation plan. Members will not only have the chance to present their proposals to postgraduate, graduate and undergraduate students but also experts in this field.

Benefits

This will foster team work between members from different academic backgrounds and increase the confidence in members in working on global projects. The presentations involve in this initiative will also help train students for future scientific presentations.

2. NSBE Aachen Day

On this day members of NSBE Aachen will invite as many students as possible to the occasion where we will sell NSBE Aachen to our target group and the entire university through oral and poster presentations of the research work of students. Winners from the research initiative competition will be given the chance to present their work orally to the entire audience which will be followed by discussions on the feasibility and how to proceed further on the project implementation plan.

Benefits

We hope to increase the awareness of the need to increase the number of minority engineers who excel academically and succeed professionally which is the aim of NSBE. We will have the chance to tell our target group what NSBE is all about which will give us a platform to recruit new members. Since NSBE Aachen boasts of 30 members of which 23 are graduate students and 5 PhD students we hope to organize for the first time, a highly scientific meeting. We will rely on our PhD students to invite their professors or research group leaders to this occasion which will help members to have direct and informal interactions with senior researchers in the university during the social event that will follow the scientific one. This will be an avenue to make contacts for that future research positions in the university.

3. PCI Mentorship Program

We recently undertook a project where a survey was carried out to find out why children of African origin born in Germany do not usually make it to high institutions of learning to study engineering and science. The manuscript of these findings is in preparation and this program is an attempt to remedy the situation. This is ongoing and will be a long term and everyday program.

Benefits

High School children in the city will benefit from the guidance from our members in their academic and also day-to-day activities. This will ease the burden on parents in striving to get a good future for their kids. It will also contribute to our guest to fulfill our common mission – to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically and succeed professionally.

4. Membership Drive

This is the time where all members of NSBE Aachen join forces to recruit new members to the society through stopping students in front of lecture halls and libraries to talk to them about NSBE. This has been the main source of recruitment for NSBE Aachen. This takes place in the beginning of every semester (April and October)

6. Consulting Design Olympiad (CDO)

The NSBE Aachen chapter won the 2009 Consulting Design Olympiad (CDO) that was held during the 35th National Convention of the NSBE in Las Vegas, Nevada from the 25th to the 29th March 2009. This event was the second since the CDO was launched by the International Committee of the NSBE as a way of encouraging students to get involved in finding solutions to global engineering problems. The first event was held at the 2008 National Convention in Orlando, Florida where NSBE Aachen had the second place.

The Aachen Chapter is set again to defend its first place in the CDO that is scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada from the 31^st March – 4^th April, 2010.

5. Summer Barbecue and End of year Party/Handing over ceremony

These two events are social ones where everyone is invited to join NSBE members in relaxing and making new friends. During the end of year party, new officers are introduced to the entire audience through the handing over ceremony.

Benefits

Students get to know NSBE and what we do through a one on one interaction. At the end of year party the work of the new officers begin right there by recruiting new members to the society. This has been playing a key role in our recruitment processes.