College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Oklahoma State University placed third out of 13 teams in the undergraduate category and second out of three teams in the undergraduate team category at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Regional Student Paper Conference. 

 

AIAA is the largest aerospace professional society in the world. The organization hosts around two dozen conferences each year that focus on key aerospace topics. The conferences give students the opportunity to present research papers individually and in teams.

 

            Dr. Kurt Rouser holds a professional membership with AIAA and worked with his two sons on their third place submission in the undergraduate category. 

 

“This annual conference hosted by AIAA motivates our students to conduct research and design projects so that they have an opportunity to develop professional skills, knowledge and experience associated with collecting data, conducting analysis and communicating technical content in both written and oral formats,” Rouser said. 

 

            Austin Rouser and Brock Rouser were awarded third place in the undergraduate category with their research paper, “Experimental Evaluation of 14-in to 20-in Diameter Propellers at Low Reynolds Number Operation.” 

 

            OSU took second place in the undergraduate team category with the submission of “Engine Redesign and Integration of Rocket Assisted Take-Off on a Small, High-Speed Unmanned Aircraft.”

 

 

            Members of the undergraduate team include: 

-          Jeremy Barton

-          Mahayla Mitchell

-          Devin Bishop

-          Tevin James

-          Mason Jernigan

-          Callahan Morris

-          Chase Wilson

-          Benjamin Sanford

-          Romain Bailey

-          Cooper Degner

 

“I think what sets our students apart is their ability to translate classroom smarts into practical, relevant application that’s consistent with our ‘Cowboy’ culture at OSU,” Rouser said. 

 

            The conference took place in San Antonio, Texas, on April 1-2 with 18 OSU students submitting seven entries. Students were able to present their research in a formal meeting while interacting and exchanging ideas with other universities in their region.

 

            States in the region included Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. 

 

            The judges consist of professional members of AIAA. Students were judged based on their ability to communicate their work, both written and oral. Cash prizes were awarded to the first, second and third places of each category. 

 

            “They benefit as much from the journey of scholarship and discovery as they do from the reward of being placed in their categories,” Rouser said. “All students benefit from participation regardless of how they finish.”