Author: Zane Mebruer | Major: Mechanical Engineering | Semester: Fall 2024

My name is Zane Mebruer, and I am currently pursuing a B.S. in mechanical engineering with a
concentration in aerospace, as well as physics and nanotechnology minors, at the University of
Arkansas. As part of my honors thesis, I am researching the use of carbon dioxide as a gas medium
in which to perform metal 3-D printing processes, specifically Selective Laser Melting (SLM). SLM
processing must be done in an inert atmosphere to prevent oxidation defects during fabrication,
which can limit the printed component’s surface quality, strength, and durability. Typically, an argon
atmosphere is used, as it is both abundant and proven, but little research has been done into
alternative atmospheres. Carbon dioxide is of particular interest, as it makes up over 95% of the
Martian atmosphere, meaning that if it can be successfully used as a SLM medium SLM can be
more effectively used in a Martian colonization effort.

Zane Mebruer alongside lab mate Youwen Liang and research mentor Dr. Wan Shou showing off their respective 3rd and 2nd place awards for their research posters in the micro- and nanotechnology division

I recently had the good fortune of presenting a poster on this research at the International
Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), hosted by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineering (ASME) in Portland, Oregon. The IMECE is one of the largest engineering
conferences in the world, with students, professors, and industry leaders from all over the world
coming together to present and discuss cutting edge research from countless disciplines.
Attending this conference was an incredible experience, as it helped me further develop my
presentation abilities, create professional connections, and broaden my interests in the
mechanical engineering field.

The main highlight of the conference was my poster presentation. I set up my poster in a large
poster gallery with over a hundred other presenters in my category. I highly enjoyed sharing my
research with those perusing the gallery, and many of them seemed to take a genuine interest,
which was great to see. I also enjoyed seeing and discussing the research on display from my fellow
peers. Many of them were graduate students, so alongside discussing their posters I also got to talk
with them about their experiences conducting higher-level research. As I am planning on attending
graduate school myself, these conversations helped me to develop a better expectation of the
graduate student experience, which was incredibly beneficial. To cap it all off, my poster ended up
receiving 3rd place within the micro- and nanotechnology division, which was a huge honor
considering the stiff competition I faced. Overall, the poster presentation was a truly unforgettable
experience that has impacted my research career in a way unmatched by anything else.

While my poster presentation was the most impactful portion of my experience at the IMECE, I
highly enjoyed the rest of my time at the conference as well. I sat in on a number of engaging
presentations from fellow students and professors over a multitude of research topics, from robotic
dinosaurs to 3-D printed chainmail. Several of these presentations also contained research directly
related to mine, which has given me new ideas to improve the quality of my findings. I also got the
privilege of spending time with my lab mates, who also attended the conference. In addition to
getting to see their research presented in a professional setting, we were able to spend time
together in a way we never have by exploring the city of Portland in our downtime. The conference
brought the members of my lab closer than ever before, which will undoubtedly have beneficial
effects on our future collaboration.

Attending the IMECE conference was an unforgettable experience. The contributions to both my
professional and personal life were truly unprecedented, and I have gained an even greater drive to
pursue my research career as a result. I am incredibly grateful to the University of Arkansas Honors
College for funding this opportunity.