Short Span Steel Bridges 
International Bridge Conference Student Poster Competition
The International Bridge Conference (IBC) is calling on college students interested in bridge engineering to enter the James D. Cooper Student Poster Award Competition.
The competition is open to college and university engineering students in the United States and worldwide.
The two winning poster authors will receive a $500 Fellowship, complementary registration and hotel and travel allowances to attend the 2023 IBC in National Harbor, MD on June 12-14, 2023.
Additionally, the top 10 poster authors, including the two winners, will be invited to present their poster at the IBC. The posters will be located in the hall adjacent to the rooms with all the technical sessions. Students will be required to be present at their poster during the session breaks on June 13, 2023.
Opportunity to Network With Prospective Employers
Nearly 1,000 bridge designers, consultants, owners, contractors, and academia regularly attend the IBC. The poster award and display are a fantastic opportunity for students to network with prospective employers in the bridge industry. Poster presenters are encouraged to bring their resume and provide their LinkedIn or similar profile on their poster. Handouts of the poster in an 11”x 17” paper format are also permitted at the IBC.
Student posters can fall within one of the IBC Technical Session Topics listed below. Alternatively, students can create posters based on current graduate or undergraduate research work they are conducting, bridge case studies, or on meaningful co-op/internship experiences/projects they want to share.
Posters Must be Submitted by March 31
Posters must be authored only by students; posters co-authored by faculty advisors are not eligible. Posters will be judged by the IBC Executive Committee. Student competition posters must be submitted no later than March 31, 2023.
Winning entries will be notified in April 2023. Invitations to present posters at the IBC will also be made at this time.
For additional information, please refer to the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania website.
Does the SSSBA offer educational opportunities?
Yes! The SSSBA offers educational opportunities to students and professionals:
Professionals: The SSSBA provides complimentary half-day or full-day workshops on short span steel bridge design to states, counties, and design firms. Topics covered include practical and cost-effective steel bridge design and fabrication with eSPAN140, press-brake-formed steel tub girders, steel buried bridge design, galvanized coating solutions, and economical design with case studies, and more. The workshops can take place virtually or in-person, compliments of the steel industry. Learn more.
Students: The University of Wyoming and the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance created a free 6-part live-lecture educational series to cover the many aspects of designing, fabricating, and constructing steel bridges. All students who successfully complete the education series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Wyoming. Learn more.
Speakers: The SSSBA provides expert speakers to present topics of interest on the cost-effective design and construction of short span steel bridges. If you need a speaker for your next event, contact the SSSBA.
News
AISI Welding Advisory Group Meets at WJE Headquarters
The AISI Welding Advisory Group (WAG) met at WJE in Northbrook, Illinois, for a full day of technical presentations, discussion and a tour of the WJE lab focused on advancing welding technology for steel bridges and related structures.
News
FHWA Makes $3B Available for Bridge Investment – Bridge Applications Due June 29
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is making $3 billion available through its Bridge Investment Program for states to invest in aging bridge infrastructure across the country. Planning grant applications are due June 15, with bridge project grant applications due June 29.
News
Infrastructure Week 2026 On-Demand Webinar: How Steel Bridges Maximize Transportation Investment
During Infrastructure Week 2026, the SSSBA, in cooperation with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the American Galvanizers Association (AGA), hosted a webinar focused on practical, cost-effective infrastructure solutions. Now available on-demand, it highlights how resilient steel bridge design helps extend transportation dollars while improving long-term performance, durability, and reliability.