For more than 70 years, AIAA has been the principal society of the aerospace engineer and scientist. But we have not always been AIAA, or even one organization.
In 1963, the two great aerospace societies of the day merged. The American Rocket Society and the Institute of Aerospace Science joined to become AIAA. Both brought long and eventful histories to the relationship: histories that stretched back to 1930 and 1932 respectively, a time when rocketry was the stuff of science fiction and the aviation business was still in its infancy.
Each society left its distinct mark on AIAA. The merger combined the imaginative, risk-taking, shoot-for-the-moon outlook of Project Mercury-era rocket, missile, and space professionals with the more established, well-recognized, industry-building achievers of the aviation community. The resulting synergy has benefited aerospace ever since.
Today, with more than 35,000 members, AIAA is the world's largest professional society devoted to the progress of engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. The Institute continues to be the principal voice, information resource, and publisher for aerospace engineers, scientists, managers, policymakers, students, and educators. AIAA is also the go-to resource for stimulating professional accomplishment and standards-driven excellence in all areas of aerospace for prominent corporations and government organizations worldwide.
The Clarkson chapter of AIAA has been around for many year but has not been an offical club on campus. The main use of the Clarkson chapter was through the Design Build Fly Speed Team. In December of 2012 two very enthusiastic Aeronautical Engineering Students Matthew Kane and Eliyah Khandaker decided to start up the actual club.
Dr. Kenneth Visser is the faculty advisor for the chapter and has been a part of the Clarkson Design Build Fly team for the past few years.
The Clarkson AIAA chapter is made up of enthusiastic Aeronautical Engineering students from all age groups. They gather for bi-weekly meetings to discuss recent events in the Aeronautical and Aerospace industry. They host guest speakers, who talk about the experiences with in the feild. During engineering week they talk to local high school and middle school students about some of the things they learn to try and raise interest in the engineering and science feild of study.