Check out a sampling of our clubs below.

3D4E

About:
What is 3D4E?
 
3D4E (3D Printing For Everyone) is a multicollegate organization focused on engaging students in all types of 3D printing projects. We serve as UCLA’s 3D4E chapter. 
 
3D Printing is a combination of art, engineering, and problem-solving. At 3D4E, we strive to inspire people through the power of computer-aided design, and leave our own mark by building practical solutions to real-world problems through 3D-printed products.
 
What do we do?
 
Our club’s main focus is on group projects, in which we design, manufacture, and test using CAD software and 3D printing. These projects range from recreational, like RC cars, to life-changing, like our prosthetic hand. In addition to our group efforts, 3D4E also supports members with the resources and expertise they might need to pursue their own individual ideas.
 
How can I join?
 
We are 3D Printing for Everyone! Anyone who shows an interest is welcome to join. Our goal is to introduce our new members to the joys of 3D printing through workshops on 3D modeling and interactive training on printer use. For our more experienced members, we offer the tools and guidance to enable whatever project you may have in mind.
 
Check our our past projects on our website at https://3d4eatucla.github.io/
 

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

About DBF:

Q1: Do I need to be an aerospace engineering major to join?

A1: No! We welcome students from all majors. Though the majority of our team is Aerospace or Mechanical engineers, we have also had members who studied Physics, Math, Computer Science, Chemistry, and Design Media Arts, just to name a few.

Q2: Can I join even though I have little to no experience in aircraft or engineering?

A2: Yes! We welcome everyone as long as they are interested in learning and participating in the club. Most of our members join with no experience, so you are not required to have any previous knowledge. We will teach you everything you need to know!

Q3: How much time, on average, do people commit for Design Build Fly?

A3: During the different phases of the competition, the time committed by members vary greatly based on what subteam they are on and how invested they are in the project. We understand that everyone is a student first and that you may have other extracurricular commitments outside of DBF, but we expect members to complete the work that they have signed up for. The time commitment ranges anywhere from 1-2 hours during light weeks to 10-15 hours as we approach deadlines and competition, but each member can choose how many hours they want to commit during any time of the year; there are no requirements.

Q4: How do you decide the design of the aircraft?

A4: Every year, the national AIAA DBF committee releases a new design challenge and set of rules for that year’s competition. Based on the requirements and missions an aircraft must complete, we use different models and sensitivity analysis to choose the design of the aircraft to maximize competition score. Refer to https://www.aiaa.org/dbf for more information regarding the competition. 

Q5: Does it fly?

A5: Yes it does! If you are interested, please also watch our welcome video to see our planes in action!

 

About RP:

About UAS:
  • What major should I be if I want to join this club?

UAS@UCLA is actually a majority software club. The most recognizable thing to outsiders is our amazing airframe (comprised of Aerospace, MechE, Materials, and open to Civil engineers) team and the designs they manufacture, but their work is matched by the work done by EE, CE, CSE, and CS majors in our other three subteams. They get practical experience with autonomous controls, vision recognition algorithms, and many other developing fields used from Amazon’s delivery drones, to NASA’s 2020 Mars Rover.

  • How much time commitment is UAS@UCLA?

Typical members are expected to attend a general club meeting every other week, and their subteam meeting each week. That comes out to roughly 2 hours per week. We’re not asking anyone to dedicate their lives to UAS, but for people who can and do spend more of their free time working on club projects, they get opportunities to go to the field for flight testing, or even attend our annual competition in Washington DC on the club’s dolar. The people who spend the most time also find they get the most out of the club (the president of the club in 2019-2020 spent on average 6 hours per week on UAS@UCLA work, some weeks less, some weeks … much more)

  • How much work can a first-year actually do with so many other experienced members?

UAS@UCLA will be holding our second annual training program, UASpire (pronounced “you aspire”) at the start of Fall quarter this coming year. We’ve thrived by the work of our first-year contributors historically, and our leadership team is very focused on making sure people always have meaningful work. Every member is on the varsity team, and no one should be left doing menial work ever. Additionally, we switch between building a plane and quadcopter every two years so that everyone is constantly learning together and as a team.

  • What is the “goal” of the club?

UAS@UCLA competes annually in the AUVSI SUAS competition at the end of UCLA’s Spring quarter. What that messy acronym means is, we build an autonomous plane or quadcopter to fly a course over a Navy base in Maryland, use vision software to recognize and tag ground targets, safely drop an autonomous ground vehicle from over 100ft, and more all in a time constraint with no do-overs. Did we mention that’s all autonomous? 

We’re also looking into adding a research wing to apply for NASA grants, or work with professors and graduate students on campus to further develop the growing field of autonomous drones.

  • What are the subteams? Why are they so important?

Every member of UAS@UCLA is a part of one of four subteams. Each subteam meets separately in addition to general meetings, and takes one of the large tasks associated with designing an autonomous drone. Those are airframe, controls, ground, and vision. 

Airframe: Designs and builds the UAV and supporting equipment

Controls: Uses a blend of computer science and mechanical engineering to create a custom flight software which will tell every electronic on the drone what to do

Ground: Builds and develops software for the ground communications and background connecting software between the drone and our laptops.

Vision: Builds a custom vision pipeline from the camera taking a picture of a target to sending off a fully recognized and tagged image to the judges.

If you want a more detailed look at each of those teams or have any further questions , visit our website (uasatucla.org) or send us an email (unmannedsystems.ucla@gmail.com)!

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

About AIChE:
  • Who can join and how often does AIChE meet?
    Anybody can join! While we often have more chemical engineering specific events, all of our events and projects are open to anyone regardless of major or year. In particular, our professional events such as our Annual Career Fair, numerous company and graduate school infosessions, and professional development workshops are useful for any engineering major.

You can be as involved in AIChE as you would like! We hold general meetings twice in fall quarter, and once in the winter and spring. These are meant for everyone to get together and create a sense of community while we briefly go over the main events for the quarter. Besides these, we host social and professional events and you can choose to attend any which interest you. Our technical projects often meet on a weekly or biweekly basis.

  • What projects does AIChE offer and who can join?
    We currently offer three technical projects: ChIP, LEAP, and Chem-E-Car. Any major can join our projects and no prior technical experience is needed.

The goal of the Chemical Engineering Introductory Project (ChIP) is to provide freshmen, sophomores, and first year transfer students with hands-on technical experience. Participants learn and apply chemical engineering principles, such as process design and process controls, by building a small-scale chemical engineering system in teams. Students also explore the principles of circuit design, computer-aided design, and 3D printing. In previous years, teams have built coffee machines and cooling towers.

The Lifetime Engineering Applications Project (LEAP) provides students with more knowledge about industry. Students work in teams to model real-life industrial processes, like ammonia and biodiesel production, using PRO/II, a process simulation software. These projects involve a variety of unit operations, such as distillation columns and reactors, along with economic analysis techniques. After completing each project, students give a technical presentation to display their understanding of the concepts involved. Each quarter is a different project so anyone can join at the start of any quarter.

In Chem-E-Car, students research, design, experiment, and collaborate with team members to build a shoebox-sized car fueled and stopped purely by chemical reactions. Every year, two of our Chem-E-Car teams compete in the regional Chem-E-Car competition, allowing students to apply their chemistry and engineering knowledge to a tangible engineering problem. Teams are chosen in the spring and are composed of 8-9 students who are sophomores/second-year transfer students and above.

Outside of technical projects, we also offer Remote Reach, AIChE’s Outreach Project. Remote Reach is designed to provide students with the opportunity to give back to the community while learning valuable communication and presentation skills. Students work in teams to create STEM modules on a variety of topics that they present to elementary, middle, and high school students as well as compete in AIChE’s K-12 STEM Outreach Competition. 

  • How can I get an internship?
    We offer many professional events to help students secure an internship and a job after graduation. Our Annual Career Fair in the fall attracts around 200 students to speak to the ~15 companies represented. We also have many infosessions ranging from a variety of industries, as well as on-site plant tours. Our professional development workshops help students build their networking skills, resume, cover letter, elevator pitch, interview skills, and more.

What else does AIChE offer outside of professional development?
Through our mentorship program, freshmen and first-year transfer students are paired with mentors of similar interests and placed into families. Through over 100 mentor-mentee pairings annually, upperclassmen can provide insight and advice critical to the success of new members. Our program guides new students in their transition to life as chemical engineering undergraduates. Our family heads host events such as KBBQ, a trip to the Getty Museum, kayaking at Marina del Rey, virtual game night, and many more throughout the quarter for members to get together and connect outside of classes.

Meet some of our members:

Nadia Owen
Hi! My name is Nadia, and I’m a third year chemical engineering major from LA. I joined AIChE as a freshman and have been involved ever since! I currently serve as President and am a member of Chem-E-Car. In past years, I have served as Alumni & Outreach Chair and been a member of the ChIP and LEAP Projects. Outside of AIChE, I do research in a photovoltaics lab and am a member of the Phi Sigma Rho Sorority for Women in STEM, and I love baking, reading, and backpacking in my free time.

Stephanie Du
Hi my name is Stephanie, and I’m a fourth year chemical engineering major from Houston, TX. I previously served as President, External Vice President, and Internal Vice President of AIChE at UCLA. I’ve been involved in all aspects of AIChE: from professional development, technical projects such as LEAP and ChIP, and mentorship. I’m interested in the energy industry, project management, and business. I also enjoy
bullet journalling, calligraphy, and reading in my free time.

Diya Kapur
Hi! My name is Diya, and I am a second year chemical engineering major here at UCLA. I joined AIChE within the first month of my college career and since then I have been involved as an Intern Events intern, External Vice President, and am currently Internal Vice President! I am incredibly grateful for the AIChE community and opportunities as it has already helped me pursue my interest in the biotech industry. When I take a step away from my academic interests, I enjoy spending my time artistically whether it be through dancing, painting, or even baking! 

Kiko Galang
Hi everyone! I am a fourth year Filipino student from Corona, CA! On campus I have been involved with the AIChE at UCLA, AXS, the UCLA Marching Band, and Samahang Pilipino. I have been a family head for AIChE at UCLA as well as have participated in their projects such as ChIP, LEAP, and ChemE Car. I am interested in sustainable chemical production and am doing undergraduate research in an electrochemistry lab. Outside of engineering, I have performed and played with the UCLA marching band as well as performed and acted in Samahang Pilipino’s Cultural Night! AIChE at UCLA has been fundamental in helping me find this work-life balance.

Alyssa Vu
Hi! My name is Alyssa Vu, and I am a third year studying Chemical Engineering. I am one of the Co-Leads for AIChE’s Chem-E-Car Project as well as the previous Mentorship Chair for AIChE. Outside of AIChE, I am also involved in Rocket Project, UCLA Radio, RefineLA, and FAST at UCLA. In my free time, I enjoy going on walks and taking care of my plants!

Justin Luong
My name is Justin Luong, and I was previously AIChE’s Internal Events Intern and Webmaster, but now I’m the current Mentorship Chair. I’m interested in sustainable energy, nanotechnology, and possibly semiconductor manufacturing. My hobbies are photography, dance, and the occasional hosting of zoom studying sessions.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

About ASCE:

How can I get involved in the chapter?

It’s really easy to become involved in our chapter! I would recommend attending our Fall General Meeting during Week 1 to learn more about all the events we have in the fall and when all our project workdays occur. All you have to do is fill out an annual membership form and pay the annual membership fee and then you have access to all our events. Getting involved is as easy as just attending general events (industry recruitment events, community service events, intramural teams, social events, etc.) and joining any of our 12 technical projects that interest you. We post all our events and workdays regularly on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Everything is also on our official calendar (www.ascebruins.org/calendar.html)!

Do you need experience to join a technical project?

No, not at all! Our project managers are happy to teach you everything you’ll need to know to be successful and help make a meaningful contribution to a project. All you need is an interest in the project and a can-do attitude.

Can I be involved in more than one technical project?

Yes, you definitely can! We really encourage all our new members to try out any and all projects that interest them. As you become more involved in the project and maybe even think about taking on a leadership role in the project the next year, you can evaluate how much time you have and how you’ll split that time between projects, school, etc. However, joining multiple projects at first is a great way to meet even more people and form connections while also learning more about the different aspects of civil engineering. If you’re concerned about how manageable it is, I was a project director for multiple projects my sophomore and junior year so it’s definitely doable.

How can I go about obtaining an internship?

Active members of our chapter have a really high percentage rate of receiving both summer (or even part-time) internships while they are students and full-time job offers once they are graduating seniors. ASCE has a ton of opportunities for networking and job-hunting through our 15+ company info sessions, two networking nights, and two career fairs. In the past few years, we’ve had around 20 companies attend each Networking Night and 45 civil engineering and construction management companies attend each Career Fair. Attending these events and speaking with the industry reps there are great ways to secure an internship. We also host events like resume and mock interview workshops to help people best prepare for the Career Fair.

How can I balance school work and extracurriculars?

I think most UCLA Engineering students would say time management and learning to prioritize. Obviously school comes first, and anyone in club leadership understands this as it’s true for them too. In other words, no project manager or officer will be upset or not understand if you can’t go to a workday/event because you need to study for a midterm. In terms of balance, time management is everything. Many of us use calendars to schedule our daily activities or have running lists that are organized into schoolwork and different club responsibilities. I think it’s important to sit down every week and forecast what you need to get done from what assignments are due to what events are happening during the week. It’s definitely a learning curve at first with the quarter system and transitioning from high school to college, but we all learned pretty quickly and so will you! And always remember, we’re always happy to help if you’re ever struggling to balance everything at once

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

About ASME:

What is ASME? 

ASME stands for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. That said, anyone is allowed to join! ASME is a national organization that sets standards for the engineering industry, and also serves to connect communities of students, professionals, and academic scholars across mechanical engineering. 

At UCLA, ASME is a student-run organization that provides its members with technical and professional opportunities that are crucial in order to succeed after college. We want all our members to gain technical skills and stay informed about the progress of their academic careers. UCLA does not offer a lot of hands-on learning in its engineering curriculum, but ASME’s technical projects aim to counter that by providing members with important practical skills. Our goal is that, by the end of their senior year, our members are well-rounded engineers equipped with both theoretical and technical knowledge and experience.

What technical projects does ASME offer? Do I need any experience before joining?

ASME has three main technical projects: Fabrication and Design Essentials, Combat Robotics, and X1 Robotics. We are also in the process of adopting the Bruin Underwater Robotics (BUR) team as one of our technical projects and provide them with the support of our club and its resources. 

Fabrication and Design Essentials (F.A.D.E) is a year-long training program that introduces students to Computer-Aided Design, machining, and electronics. No experience is required to join FADE, and we welcome all majors! 

In Combat Robotics, student teams conceptualize, design, manufacture, and assemble 3 lb. arena-combat robots to compete in an annual competition in the Spring. Students will get hands-on exposure to the entire design and manufacturing process. No experience is necessary to join Combat Robotics! 

X1 Robotics is a unique project because every year involves a completely new robotics concept. In the beginning of the year, students brainstorm and pitch their ideas. Once a project has been chosen by a diverse team of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and computer science students, we then start a cycle of research, development, and iteration. 2018’s project was a recreation of a Guardian robot from the Legend of Zelda video game series; it featured a life-like 6-legged gait, organic behavior, and target-following software. In 2019, we started working on BruinBot, a friendly human-interaction robot that roams around campus greeting students and handing out snacks. Since it is a higher-level project, some experience is preferred when joining X1, but all members are encouraged to challenge themselves!

Bruin Underwater Robotics is ASME’s newest initiative, focused on the development of robots capable of carrying out complex tasks in underwater environments. These robots have a myriad of real-world applications, ranging from shipwreck investigation to deep-sea biological research. Through the design process, members will gain experience in a wide variety of fields, including electronics, CAD, and controls. And as a newly founded team, next year’s members will have the opportunity to take on leadership roles and make a meaningful impact on the project. All majors and experience levels are welcome!

Do you offer any professional development opportunities?

We offer plenty of professional development opportunities! We help plan the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Career Fair every Fall, attracting companies that are offering both internship and full-time opportunities. We also host on-campus infosessions and workshops with companies such as Arconic and Marathon Petroleum so that students can further network! Moreover, we also host in-house Resume and Interview Workshops in which our more experienced officers offer one-on-one feedback to help you land your dream job!

What kind of social events does ASME hold?

We believe that harboring a community that supports each other like family is vital to the success of our members. This is why we value having occasional social events that take us out of the engineering mindset and allow us to support each other as friends. 

Some annual traditions are ice blocking by Janss Steps, our general member retreat, and outings to the Griffiths observatory. Many times, small groups of our members will meet up to go out for dinner after their meetings. Throughout the quarter, we will also hold game nights at the lab, and at each end of the quarter, we also camp out at the dining halls to study together for finals. 

Due to recent global events, we have not been able to meet up in person, but that hasn’t stopped us from holding social events. Our Discord channel is always active with conversation, and we even have a private Minecraft server that the members can play in! We are continuing to plan for many other online social events via Zoom or other multiplayer games.

Do I have to be a mechanical engineering major to join?

Absolutely not! Anyone interested in our technical projects, professional development opportunities, or social events can join. Our technical projects and professional events cater mostly to mechanical engineering majors, but we still have many opportunities for those in computer science, electrical engineering, and more. For example, there are many electrical engineers and computer science students in X1 Robotics due to the diverse skills needed for that project. Additionally, our close-knit community has attracted students from even outside of STEM to join, and we are happy to welcome anyone who wants to be a part of ASME!

How do I get involved?

The best way to get involved is to sign up for our newsletter, which can be found on our official website https://www.asmebruins.com/. We send one out at the beginning of every week with the locations, dates, and times of all our meetings and events, which are open to anyone trying to be involved with ASME. At the beginning of every quarter, we also hold a general member meeting where the officers present an overview of the quarter’s events. 

For technical projects, since there are time-sensitive deadlines and competition dates, we highly encourage you to get involved at the beginning of the year or quarter, but this is not a hard cutoff — we want you to be a part of the ASME family! 

For social or professional development events, you are welcome to show up to any and all of them. Just make sure to sign in with ASME!

Arab American Association of Engineers and Architects (AAAEA)

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

About ACM:

What does ACM do?

ACM is the largest computer science organization on campus. With over 600 members, we explore the vast array of topics that computer science has to offer. We are composed of 8 committees that each have a different focus: ACM Hack, ACM-W, ACM AI, ACM Game Studio, ACM ICPC, ACM Cyber, ACM Design, and ACM Teach LA. Whether you’re looking to build the next big mobile app, crack through codes with cybersecurity, become a machine learning whiz, or start conversations about diversity in tech, we have all that and more here at ACM. Learn from fellow students who have done research, internships, and even founded their own companies. Find out more about us at uclaacm.com.

How can I join ACM?

ACM values inclusivity and exploration, and we do not require applications to join! Our workshops and events are open to all. We send out weekly newsletters and post regularly on Facebook and Instagram, so if you see an event that interests you, you are more than welcome to join us! We will have a kickoff Fall General Meeting at the beginning of Fall quarter that will give more details.

Do I need experience to join ACM?

No! We welcome students of all experiences and backgrounds. Whether you have been coding since you were in elementary school or you have no idea what computer science is, we have events catered to all experience levels! Many of our committees host workshops with both beginner and advanced tracks to better cater to the diverse skill sets of our members.

Do I need to be a Computer Science major to be in ACM?

No! We welcome students of all majors. Across our committees, we delve into topics that are not limited to computer science. All workshops and events are specifically catered to those with varying degrees of experience — we’ll teach you what you need to know!

How much of a time commitment is ACM?

Here at ACM, you get what you put into it. On average, each committee hosts weekly 2-hour meetings, as well as larger one-off events. Our officers are always here to give you support and help you out! While we encourage all members to come out to weekly sessions, we do not have any mandatory attendance. The more you attend, the more you will learn!

ACM AI

To nurture curiosity in artificial intelligence and machine learning

ACM HACK

To empower UCLA students to influence their world through code by teaching them mobile and web development

ACM TEACH LA

To empower elementary, middle, and high school students with access to CS education.

ACM Game Studio

To create a community for developers interested in game development and virtual reality

ACM W

To advocate for the full engagement of all who are interested in CS and aims to increase diversity in the technical field

ACM  ICPC

To promote algorithmic thinking and help build proficient problem solvers.

ACM  CYBER

To facilitate interest in cybersecurity through exploration of cryptography, web hacking, and other related topics

ACM  DESIGN

To foster a community passionate about design and user experience

Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)

About:
  • Who we are and what we do:

The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) at UCLA is the only undergraduate bioengineering-related student organization on campus! We have over 200+ members and offer a wide variety of events, ranging from Community Outreach opportunities, Professional Development events, Technical Projects teams, and Mentorship and Social activities. For anyone interested in teaching science to elementary school students, joining a technical projects team to broaden your technical skills, or even polishing your interview skills through one of our academic and industry workshops, there are exciting opportunities catered towards everyone!

  • How to get involved and stay connected:

A great first step is signing up for our newsletter on our website: bmes.seas.ucla.edu! Here, you’ll be able to hear about our upcoming weekly events. Additionally, our quarterly General Meetings also give a great idea as to a sense of what opportunities and events BMES has each quarter. Our Fall General Meeting will also provide more information about how to get involved in our committees, mentorship families, and technical projects teams.

Bruin Racing

About:

What is Bruin Racing?

Bruin Racing is an organization focused on designing, building, and racing cars in all aspects of motorsport. Our three teams are:

Baja: A single seat, all-terrain vehicle that seeks to conquer any obstacle.
Formula: An on-track, open-wheel racecar with a focus on precision handling and speed.
Supermileage: Hyper-efficient gas and electric vehicles that push the boundaries of green emissions.

What does Racing do?

Racing provides an educational, hands-on experience that will prepare you for the engineering landscape. We teach vital industry skills such as computer-aided design, finite element analysis, manufacturing techniques, and project/business management to make you a stronger, more well-rounded engineer. Racing also strives to innovate as much as possible, utilizing more advanced engineering tools such as Dynamics Simulation and CNC machining to make creative solutions out of the most challenging problems. We offer a wide range of professional development opportunities, such as on-campus info-sessions with major engineering companies such as SpaceX and Mercedes-Benz, to help our members find career paths and score the perfect job.

How can I join?

Racing is open to all who want to join, regardless of major or prior experience. We’re constantly looking for more engineers of all majors to bring new ideas to the table and create the strongest vehicles we can. If you’re interested in joining or getting more information, please visit us at:

Website: www.bruinracing.com Email: contact@bruinracing.org Instagram: @bruinracing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bruinracing

Bruin Spacecraft Group

About:

What is Bruin Spacecraft Group?

We are a group of students who aim to make the dream of space exploration more accessible to the UCLA campus community. We provide a creative and supportive environment for space missions design and development at UCLA and are a unique opportunity for you to develop real-world engineering skills. You can find out more about us at https://bruinspace.com/

If you love Space, then Bruin Spacecraft Group is the club for you!

What does your club do?

We are home to 5 amazing and talented sub-teams: Rapid, Reach, Overseer, Endeavor and Forge. 

  • Rapid is our flagship project team. We build CubeSats designed to fly on commercial rockets. Currently working on a 3U CubeSat that can accomodate the MiXi ion engine. Past projects include a magnetohydrodynamic pump experiment that flew on board a Blue Origin rocket!
  • Reach builds CubeSats designed to be flown on amateur rockets. Currently working on SPARTAN: a pathfinder mission for a 100% modular CubeSat payload. Curious? Come ask us what that means!
  • Overseer builds high-altitude balloons that test out new and experimental technology. Past projects include many successful launches touching altitudes of 100,000 feet+. Currently testing out a shiny new ground station and maybe some solar panels for their next launch!
  • Endeavor is Bruin Space’s science project. If you’re more into research and answering life’s unanswered questions, Endeavor’s the team for you! Currently working on a Muon detector that will fly on board an Overseer balloon soon as well as experiments involving the Magnetohydrodynamic pump.
  • Forge is Bruin Space’s educational outreach arm. Forge hosts workshops and talks open to the UCLA engineering community to spread the knowledge and open access into space technology. We are also running some classes on cube-sat development (ask us more about this!).

 

Who can join?

Anyone! We are constantly seeking out engineering talent to join any of our sub-teams. Teams are typically composed of Aerospace Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Computer Science majors and Physics majors but we are open to recruiting anyone who is interested in space and is looking for an opportunity to contribute! Many of our projects don’t even need prior experience and we have many programs in place to get you up to speed with the skills you need.

What is the time commitment?

There is no minimum time-commitment that is set in stone. Your Bruin Space experience is what you make of it, but the more you put in – the more you get back!

Building Engineers and Mentors (BEAM)

About BEAM:

What does BEAM do?

BEAM (Building Engineers and Mentors) is a STEM outreach organization that teaches hands-on science activities to students at local underserved elementary schools. We believe science should be accessible to all students, and we encourage our students to see how science can be fun and creative! We’ve been doing virtual lessons for the last year and distributing supplies packages to our students, which helps keep them engaged during online learning.

 

What schools do you work with?

We currently teach at two local schools: Melrose Elementary (5th grade students) and Crescent Heights Elementary (4th grade students). We visit each school once a week for an hour-long hands-on lesson, and each school is within a 30 minute drive of UCLA.

 

What kind of lessons do you teach?

All of our lessons are STEM-focused and target the California science standards for 4th and 5th grade. We cover a broad range of topics, including robots, microscopes, 3D printing, earthquakes, lungs, and oobleck! The bulk of our lessons are spent on hands-on activities so that our students can learn by doing. We’re always working to develop new lesson plans as well.

 

Why should I join BEAM?

If you like working with kids, enjoy science, and want to join an awesome community at UCLA then this is the club for you! Being involved with BEAM is a great way to give back to the LA community and mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers. You’ll also have the chance to improve your communication and leadership skills. 

Chi Epsilon (XE)

Engineering Society at UCLA

About:

What is the Engineering Society at UCLA?

We are the umbrella organization across all engineering student groups that seeks to connect the School of Engineering, student organizations, and the undergraduate body. Our primary goals are to see the professional, academic, and personal development of our members and to advance the impacts that UCLA Engineering has on our community.

What does the Engineering Society do?

The primary way we seek to accomplish our goal is through hosting events. We host a wide variety of events from Engineering Welcome Day, our beginning-of-the-year introduction, to Engineers Week, a week-long celebration of the engineering community. These events all have a different purpose, but they seek to develop our undergraduate community and School of Engineering in any way possible.

How can I get involved?

The best way to get involved is to come to Engineering Welcome Day next fall. We’re the group that hosts this event! This is an event where all incoming engineers will have a chance to meet student organizations and hear speeches from key members of the School of Engineering. In addition, feel free to check out our website at www.esuc.ucla.edu or shoot us an email at esuc.ucla@gmail.com. Go Bruins!

Eta Kappa Nu (HKN)

About:
What is HKN?
IEEE-HKN is the IEEE honors society, devoted to promoting excellence in the field of electrical and computer engineering. The UCLA chapter of HKN, the Iota Gamme chapter, focuses on service and assistance of the student body. Through workshops, review sessions, and member socials, HKN at UCLA provides a crucial resource for all students in the ECE department. 
 
Where can I get help?
HKN offers peer-to-peer tutoring in the Undergraduate Student Lounge in Engineering IV (67-127, Engr. IV), weeks 3-9 from 10-5 every weekday. There, you can get help with all required ECE lower division courses, as well as many ECE/CS upper division courses.   
 
How can I join?
HKN is an invite-only club; to be invited, must be of high academic standing, and have enough university credits to be of Junior or Senior standing. Once you meet these requirements, you will hear from us!
 
Website: hkn.ee.ucla.edu

Exploretech.la

About exploretech.la:

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

About:

Q: What is IEEE?

A: IEEE stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: the world’s largest technical professional organization. Our student branch of IEEE at UCLA maintains ties with the national organization while focusing on enhancing the experiences of students majoring in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, and Computer Science. We offer technical projects, social activities, professional development opportunities, and workshops that will help you find friends and build your UCLA community while preparing for and landing internships.

Q: I heard something about the IEEE Lab. What is it? And how do I get there?

A: The IEEE Lab is a shared space with tables, 3D printers, soldering irons, electrical components, and prototyping materials where you can do homework, work on IEEE projects, and hang out with friends between classes. Normal lab hours are 10:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday, but the lab is also often open outside of those hours whenever an officer is present. Our website has info for how to find the IEEE Lab at http://ieeebruins.com/lab since this may be tricky your first time.

Q: What projects does IEEE work on?

A: IEEE has three main projects. These projects give participants opportunities to apply what they learn in various areas of Electrical and Computer Engineering and develop hands-on project skills that are valuable for internships and full-time jobs. Our introductory project is called OPS (Open Project Space) and is designed to teach participants with little to no experience in electrical engineering the skills they need to join one of our more advanced projects. Our advanced projects consist of Aircopter Project and Micromouse. In Aircopter, teams design, build, and program mini quadcopters. Micromouse is a project where teams design autonomous robotic mice and use them to race against teams from UCLA and other schools in intercollegiate competitions.

IEEE Women Advancing Technology through Teamwork (WATT)

About:
  • What is IEEE WATT?
WATT stands for Women Advancing Technology through Teamwork. We are a technical advocacy group for women and minorities in Electrical Engineering, operating as a branch of IEEE Women in Engineering. We empower both students at UCLA and younger girls in our community. Join if you want to inspire others, tinker with EE and network with industry professionals.
  • Can those who do not identify as women or who are not EE/CE majors join the club?

YES, we welcome everyone! Our club is open to those who would like to advocate for minorities. While we may be focused on EE/CE, we do not discriminate based on major, gender, race, age, etc.! If you are interested in EE/CE but not in the major, WATT is the perfect place to get exposure to EE and test the waters before attempting to change your major.

  • What is EE?

Electrical Engineering is a very broad discipline – it includes many different fields on a spectrum of software (more CS based, think of applications on your phone and laptop that don’t require a physical component) to hardware (these are more Mechanical Engineering based, like robotics and physical components that make up devices like a drone). On the more software side, Electrical Engineering consists of projects that are referred to as Digital Signal Processing (DSP). This portion of EE bleeds into CS a lot, especially when Machine Learning is thrown into the mix. On a high level, DSP projects include image and audio processing – from natural language processing to recognizing handwritten numbers. In the middle, we have a physics approach to EE. A lot of the principle engineering behind semiconductors starts with physics and electromagnetics. This part of EE overlaps with Material Science Engineering, as we go into detail about silicon and its properties. While it may sound a little boring, it is the basis of every chip in every single appliance we own – from smart watches to laptops to calculators. Last but not least, we have the hardware side of EE which overlaps with Mechanical Engineering. This side involves lots of circuitry, robotics, and a little bit of coding (for the chip to control your project).

  • What kind of technical projects do you have?

We like to focus on where creativity and EE intersect so a couple of our popular projects we have done are wearables and paper crafts. These two are small workshops where you can display your knowledge of basic circuit theory and show off your artsy side! The wearables workshop consists of using conductive thread to sew LEDs on your chosen material (hat, shirt, bag, etc.). The paper crafts workshop uses conductive paint to light up LEDs that can be used in greeting cards, thank you cards, or a decorative wall piece for your dorm. In addition to these two, we’ve done a workshop that takes sound (a clap, or maybe music with very strong bass beats) and lights up an LED everything the sound sensor detects a strong beat (allowing you to make your own sound reactive LED strip).

In addition to these fun projects, we also have more academic projects. From playing with FPGA boards to learning about Verilog we have done a variety of projects in the past. In the future, we hope to utilize some of the FPGA boards (shout out to Intel for sponsoring us!) and Raspberry Pis to have two separate tracks of long term projects.

  • How much should I know about EE/CE before coming to UCLA?

If you don’t know anything, you’ll be fine! The purpose of all of the lower divisions courses is to even out the playing field. While some students might have had unique opportunities in their high schools like computer science courses, robotics courses, maybe even parents with a background in EE/CE, others might not have had those opportunities. Although it might seem like people have an advantage in the lower division courses, the upper division courses are fair game because no one teaches upper division material in a high school setting. Just pay attention and join clubs to learn more about applying the theory you learn in class and you’ll do fine!

Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

About ITE:

What is ITE?

ITE is the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the only undergraduate transportation engineering student organization on campus. Because UCLA doesn’t have a transportation engineering program (yet! They’re working on it!), ITE serves as the gap between UCLA students and the transportation engineering profession. We have technical projects, networking events, social events, and we help students travel to conferences as well so that you can gain all the skills and resources you need to succeed in transportation. We’re open to all majors who are interested in using their skills to solve transportation problems.

How can I get involved?

It’s really easy to become a member! We recommend attending our Fall General Meeting, usually held the first or second week of the quarter. At our meetings, you’ll learn more about what we do, what kind of events we put on, and how you can help us with our projects that we take to competitions all across SoCal and beyond! You do NOT need any experience or prior knowledge of transportation to come to our project workdays and events.

Follow our social media and check out our website for more information about who we are and what we do!

Facebook: ITE at UCLA

Instagram: @ite_ucla

Website: iteucla.wordpress.com

LA Blueprint

About Us:

What is LA Blueprint?

LA Blueprint is an organization committed to building and promoting tech for social good—free of charge. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations in Southern California to build mobile and web applications. Every year, project teams of student developers and designers work together with our nonprofits to create an application that best serves their needs.

Who can join Blueprint?

We welcome students from all majors! We look for people interested in helping our mission to promote or build technology for social good.

How do I join Blueprint?

Our next recruitment cycle will be in the Fall! In order to apply, you must fill out a short application and do a series of interviews to get in. Once you are done, you are a member of Blueprint and get to work on a project team!

Materials Research Society (MRS)

About:
  • What is MRS?

The Materials Research Society (MRS) at UCLA is the premiere organization for any major interested in learning about the field of Materials Science and Engineering. We aim to provide members with professional and social support. We do everything from company info sessions and career fairs to kayaking expeditions and game nights!

  • How do I join?

Our chapter has no dues or fees. To join, simply come to our events! Our club is low time commitment. To be considered an active member, we ask that you come to at least one event a quarter. 

  • How do I hear about events?

Our most recent event news is posted on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MRSUCLA/), but our newsletter, website, and bulletin board in Boelter Hall all contain information on our events. To sign up for our newsletter, visit our website (http://www.seas.ucla.edu/mrs/).

  • Do you have any technical, hands-on projects?

We do! Our MRS chapter is home to a SAMPE (Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineers) chapter as well. Any students (regardless of year or experience) can join us in designing and manufacturing our composite beams. This previous year we had over 60 participants and worked with various materials such as carbon, glass, and natural fiber. Additionally, we compete our beams at the international SAMPE conference, traveling to locations such as Long Beach, Charlotte, and Seattle!

 

MentorSEAS

About:

What is MentorSEAS?

MentorSEAS is an organization that provides every incoming engineering student with an upperclassman mentor! Your mentor will be able to answer any questions you have about UCLA, show you around, and be a new friend! You’ll also be part of a family, a group of several mentors and mentees, so you can get to know your classmates right away. MentorSEAS also hosts events throughout the year to help you discover UCLA! These events range from information about getting involved in research to an escape room to class planning nights, and they’re all great ways to get to know your school and your fellow engineers!

How do I get a mentor?

Every incoming student is automatically assigned a mentor! In the summer, we’ll have you fill out a form about your major, interests, and the like, and we’ll pair you with a mentor. In the fall, we’ll have a kickoff event where you’ll officially meet your mentor and family!

Who can become a mentor?

Any and all returning engineering undergraduates are welcome and encouraged to apply! With so many new students every year, we start recruitment for mentors in the spring, and we want to get as many as possible so everyone has a good experience. In addition, if you want to get involved on the planning side of things, we recruit board interns at the end of fall quarter, so keep an eye out for that!

Phi Sigma Rho

Renewable Energy Association (REA)

About:

Some things to know about REA:

  • REA uniquely combines engineering-related technical skills, organizational and financial business acumen, and sustainability expertise to provide exciting leadership opportunities for passionate students at UCLA.
  • Members of REA technical teams work closely with campus faculty and staff on issues that directly affect the way UCLA deals with sustainability issues such as solar panel installation and UCLA’s zero waste goal, which involved UCLA’s leading officers on sustainability and facilities management.
  • REA is constantly growing and developing new technical and professional opportunities, which means that new ideas are always welcome! It’s easy to pitch and take charge of new initiatives. There are even positions on the executive board that train newer members to take on larger roles, but everyone has an equal say in the running of the organization!
  • REA collaborates with other student organizations in Waste Awareness Week, sustainability awareness events, and technical workshops, all of which allow members to explore other clubs and expand their professional network.

Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)

About:

 

  • What is SASE?

 

SASE stands for the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers and we aim to increase the representation of minorities, including Asians, in STEM-related fields by providing opportunities and resources for our members and the communities we serve. 

SASE was founded in 2007 as the only national pan-Asian professional organization of its kind whose impact and influence are directly related to extensive member participation and corporate sponsorships. With collegiate and professional chapters nationwide, SASE pushes for individual success while celebrating diversity and promoting community contributions.

With around 3000 student and professional members, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) provides professional development, networking, and leadership opportunities to help scientists and engineers of Asian heritage achieve their full potential. 

 

  • What does SASE do?

 

    1. Professional Development
      1. Company Info Sessions and Tech talks
      2. Company on-site visits
      3. SASE National and Regional Conferences
      4. Research Lab Networking Sessions
      5. Professional Networking Events
      6. Workshops: Interview Prep, Resume review, etc
    2. Recruitment and Retention
      1. SASE Resume Book: Have your resume added
      2. Socials and Retreats
      3. Fundraisers
      4. Tabeling at recruitment events
    3. Intern with SASE

Interns can be promoted to board members after 2 quarters

 

  • Who can join?

 

Anyone can join and everyone is welcome at our events! You do not have to be affiliated with any race or ethnicity to join nor do you have to be a STEM Major.

 

  • How can I get involved? 

 

We have general meetings every quarter. Furthermore, you can join in any of our events. We post about all events on our Facebook page and group.

You can also apply to be a SASE intern and get the opportunity to be promoted to a board member after 2 quarters. Applications are open all-year round.

 

  • Where can I get more information?

 

    1. Attend general meetings or any of our events
    2. Feel free to email board members at saseucla@gmail.com
    3. Join our newsletter
    4. Visit our website! https://saseucla.weebly.com/

Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/saseucla/) or join our Facebook Group(https://www.facebook.com/groups/saseucla/)

Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists (SOLES)

About SOLES:

 

  • What is SOLES?
      1. SOLES (Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists) is the local UCLA student chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).

 

  • What does SOLES do?
    1. Community Outreach
      1. K-12 STEM outreach activities (campus tours, STEM workshops, student panels) 
      2. Middle school and high school tutoring
    2. Professional Development
      1. Access to Companies and Recruiters
      2. Financial support for attendance to regional and national SHPE conferences
    3. Chapter Development
      1. Socials!
      2. Exploration of the fun activities LA has to offer as a familia
    4. Academic Development
      1. Weekly study nights
      2. Lunabotics team, a practical application of classroom engineering learning
    5. Leadership Development
      1. First Year Coalition 
      2. Committee-based Event Planning
      3. Executive Board Positions

Society of Women Engineering (SWE)

About:

Tau Beta Pi

About:

What is Tau Beta Pi?

Tau Beta Pi is the oldest engineering honor society and the second oldest collegiate honor society in the United States. The UCLA Epsilon Chapter was founded in 1952 and it is open to all engineering disciplines. By recognizing professional achievement, as well as service, Tau Beta Pi strives to uphold its creed of “Integrity and Excellence in Engineering.” Tau Beta Pi offers free tutoring for all lower-division STEM courses as well as review sessions for exams hosted by Tau Beta Pi members. Invitations for membership are extended to top-ranking juniors and seniors.

What services does Tau Beta Pi offer?

Tau Beta Pi offers free drop-in tutoring Monday through Friday in all lower-division STEM courses. We also offer review sessions for midterms and finals.

What benefits do members have?

  • Extensive network of engineers in all professions

  • Access to the members-only test bank

  • Life-time membership once initiated

  • Leadership, career, and service opportunities

Theta Tau

About:

Theta Tau is a Co-ed Professional Engineering Fraternity seeking to excel in professional development, brotherhood, and service. Our brothers are passionate and motivated engineers dedicated to their brothers and the fraternity as a whole.

Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE)

About UPE:

What is UPE?

Upsilon Pi Epsilon is an international honor society created to recognize academic excellence in the Computing and Information Disciplines. The members of our UCLA chapter are among the most outstanding undergraduate Computer Science students at UCLA. Our chapter holds events for students aiming to help them gain the skills and information that will help grow both professionally and academically.

What does UPE do?

Upsilon Pi Epsilon events include course review sessions, tech talks, mentorship events, and company information sessions. UPE also holds tutoring open to all students from weeks 3-9 from 9 am – 5 pm. 

How do I become a member of UPE?

Every spring and fall quarter, UPE inducts new members who meet the following requirements

Can I attend UPE events even if I am not a member?

Yes! Weekly tutoring, course review sessions, tech talks, mentorship events, etc. are open to all students.

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