SSSBA and University of Wyoming Launch Free Steel Bridge Student Summer Lecture Series

Three-week online series offered in July will help build knowledge and resumes

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) is teaming up with the University of Wyoming, American Institute of Steel Construction and National Steel Bridge Alliance to launch a free six-part live-lecture educational series that will cover the many aspects of designing, fabricating and constructing steel bridges.

The “Steel Bridge Education Lectures: From Concept to Delivery” six-part series will run from July 13-29, 2020. Lectures will be provided on Monday and Wednesday evenings during those weeks from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm EDT. Student participants must complete and pass a quiz after each lecture to earn a Certificate of Completion at the end of the series, which can be used toward building their resumes and preparing them for jobs in the bridge industry.

The lectures will be delivered live by Michael Barker, Ph.D., P.E., professor of civil and architectural engineering at the University of Wyoming, via the WyoLearn Learning Management System. The lectures can be viewed synchronously (in real time) and asynchronously (recorded version). Dr. Barker has over 30 years of experience in bridge design and construction.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenge for university students who were planning to attend classes or take internships this summer, but are now unable to do so,” said Dan Snyder, director of the SSSBA. “We’re providing an opportunity for students to take advantage of this situation and turn it into an investment in their futures. With Congress working on a new multi-year surface transportation bill which could create demand and new jobs to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, students with knowledge of innovative solutions to fix our nation’s 56,000-plus structurally deficient bridges will be in vital demand.”

Snyder said the lecture series was originally scheduled to begin this fall, but the timetable was moved up to accommodate students with open summer schedules. He said that while many engineering programs do not offer courses on steel bridge design and construction, these lectures will provide a wide scope of learning opportunities typically unavailable to students. More information on the lecture series, course syllabus and registration details are available at https://mailchi.mp/steel/summer-education-series.

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance provides essential information to bridge owners and designers on the unique benefits, innovative designs, cost competitiveness, and performance related to using steel in short span installations up to 140 feet in length. SSSBA partners comprise bridge and buried soil steel structure industry leaders, including manufacturers, fabricators and representatives of related associations and government organizations. For more news or information, visit www.shortspansteelbridges.org or follow us on Twitter at @ShortSpanSteel or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShortSpanSteel/.

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Contact:
Debbie Bennett
Senior Manager, Construction Communications
American Iron and Steel Institute
Tel: 202.452.7179

Dan Snyder
Director
Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance
Tel: 301.367.6179