A new student organization at Texas A&M University was recently started that aims to broaden students’ knowledge base about systems engineering.
Matthew Buttry, a master’s student in the Wm Michael Barnes ’64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, began working on organizing a Texas A&M chapter of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) in the spring of 2022. INCOSE was designed to connect engineering professionals in academia, industry, government and the military to network and work on systems-related projects that advance the knowledge of this field. The goal is to serve interests and attempt to solve problems of the world’s complex society.
“Our chapter is aimed at advancing systems engineering in the College of Engineering in general and particularly in the department,” Buttry said. “We plan to accomplish this mission by having speakers come in — faculty, industry representatives, etc. — to develop and educate our students interested in systems engineering and their professional and educational abilities. We’ll also provide opportunities for students to network and collaborate with each other and professional systems engineers.”
“Adding another student chapter to our department is timely given the increase in our student enrollment in the last couple of years,” said Dr. Lewis Ntaimo, department head. “I believe the INCOSE student chapter will serve many of our students whose focus interests are in systems engineering for years to come.”
INCOSE has more than 65 chapters throughout the world. The Texas A&M chapter is partnering with the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter (TGCC), based in Houston.
“They offer some financial help, which is great. They offer support in terms of coming to meetings, sharing their expertise, networking with students, being our speakers,” Buttry said. “They also offer to arrange for field trips to different places down in Houston.”
Dr. Michael Do, a member of the TGCC and professor of practice in the industrial and systems engineering department, will serve as the student chapter’s faculty advisor.
Students in the College of Engineering are encouraged to join the INCOSE student chapter.