The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Student Leadership Council (SLC) consists of representatives of the EERI student chapters throughout the United States. On August 14, 2009, the EERI SLC convened in San Francisco for their annual summer retreat. High on their agenda was the annual Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition, which the SLC has organized for the past six years.

As an EERI Platinum Subscribing Member and sponsor of the competition, CSI hosted a celebratory luncheon for the students and leading members of EERI at CSI’s Berkeley offices on Saturday, August 15th. CSI president and CEO, Ashraf Habibullah, welcomed the students warmly and gave an inspiring talk about the structural engineering profession, encouraging the students to pursue work about which they are passionate. Students also had the opportunity to mingle with other CSI staff and prominent EERI members including Professor Edward Wilson, Professor Joseph Penzien, Professor Thalia Anagnos, Professor Jack Moehle, Professor Terri Norton, and prominent Structural Engineer Maryann Phipps of Estructure.

During their retreat, the students discussed projects for the coming year including the 2010 Design Competition to be held in conjunction with the EERI Annual Meeting at the Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco, February 3 – 6, 2010.

The SLC is led by co-presidents Andreas Stravidis (UCSD) and Ben Kosbab (GATech). The SLC has successfully broadened its leadership with students from a number of schools throughout the country and seeks to attract future participants from EERI’s more than 30 student chapters throughout the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Italy and Canada

Event Sponsored by Computers & Structures, Inc.