Yan Qi – Soochow University, China

3/5   in the series Student Conference Experiences

Each year, a number of select students are provided travel grants to attend the AIChE Annual Student Conference. 

The purpose of this award is to facilitate the participation and leadership development of international student chapter members at the Annual Student Conference and to strengthen AIChE's relationship with these future global leaders. Up to eight travel grants will be awarded to International Student Chapter leaders for the Annual Student Conference.


Yan Qi was one of the students selected to receive a travel grant to attend the Annual Student Conference in Atlanta. Below she shares her thoughts and experiences. 

I’d love to summarize my trip to Atlanta in three words: exciting, beneficial and amazing. It’s not just a normal meeting in my life. Actually it’s more like a gate to my dream study place and dream workplace. I'd like to share a few thoughts about about this trip.

The Chem-E-Car competition is my favorite part. Since I was a freshman in school. I have heard about the Chem-E-Car competition from my advisor. Actually, one of my advisors had once participated in the competition and won a prize. So when he told me about his own experience, I was full of expectation. I  read this part on the web site again and again. And it really surprised me when attended. Words and pictures really cannot express the fantastic atmosphere I experienced. The serious judges, the nervous competitors, the crazy audiences, those images are still vivid in my mind. When I saw these ingenious cars, what jumped into my mind first is that I really want to make one myself! I also took lots of pictures and videos to take back to my chapter members. They all loved it as much as I did.
As for the most meaningful part, from my own standpoint, the most helpful part is the chapter leader training session. Through this session I learnt about how to keep my chapter members activate. Actually every part in the training session is really valuable for me because I had never run a big chapter like this. After the conference, I started to change our type of activities. In the coming months, we will have lots of interesting events.

I also have met a lot of people. My English is not quite good, however I could understand most parts of the sessions I took part in. I still keep in contact with some of the student presidents in the United States and other countries. We continue to exchange ideas and help each other to improve. Because I have a strong will to continue my studies in the United States, I talked with many professors and they really give me lots of good ideas.

This was the first time I’ve been to the United States and participated in such a large, formal conference. I was moved not only by the great research done by the students and professors, but also was deeply affect by the positive sprite shown by these engineers and pre-engineers. I think the AIChE is not somewhere just for sharing knowledge. It's also an emotional gathering place. It shows one how to be positive, creative, and never give up. And it always reminds you that in your pursuits, you always have friends and partners.

Applying for the Award

The travel grant will be awarded on the basis of leadership involvement in student chapter activities, academic achievement and financial need.

  • Nominations must be made by the Chapter Advisor and only one nomination will be accepted from each AIChE International Student Chapter. ​
  • Advisors may nominate one exceptional student chapter leader, who will be an undergraduate in Chemical Engineering during the 2016-2017 academic year. Please note: students graduating in 2016 are not eligible. 
  • Deadline for Applying: September 14, 2015

Learn more and Apply