Networking & Special Events

Please note that all annual meeting events are in the Minneapolis Convention Center, unless noted.

New Member & Student Networking Reception
Sunday, May 19 (Hilton Minneapolis - Headquarters Hotel)
New STLE members and students are welcomed to come for an evening of networking and great food and to build friendships and expand your professional connections. This event is for new members and students only.

Opening General Session
Monday, May 20
STLE honors its esteemed journal publishing award recipients during the Monday General Session program. You’ll also hear a keynote presentation from a world-renowned thought leader, addressing the latest innovations and emerging technologies impacting the tribology and lubricants industry. Click here to learn more about the keynote presentation.

Tribology STEM Camp
Monday, May 20
During STLE’s 2024 Annual Meeting, the Society is hosting area high school school students for its annual Tribology STEM Camp. Students will have the opportunity to see demonstrations and participate in hands-on experiments, led by engineers and scientists, to learn about areas of research within the fields of tribology and lubrication engineering. The goal of the camp is to expose students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to careers in tribology and lubrication engineering.

STLE Sustainability Forum
Monday, May 20
Dr. Neil Canter, CMFS, FSTLE, Chemical Solutions, and STLE Technical Advisor, will moderate the Sustainability Forum, which will feature a panel of top industry experts involved in various aspects of sustainability, such as standards, regulations, technologies, and best practices. They will provide an update on progress being made on sustainability in their respective areas, and included will be an update on the work that STLE’s Sustainability Committee has been conducting since its formation in November 2023. Click here to learn more about the panelists.

Speakers Breakfast
Sunday through Thursday, May 19-23
Lead authors and education course presenters are invited to meet with Session and Paper Solicitation Chairs for a continental breakfast at 7:00 am on the days of their presentations. This is a great time to review the session schedule and note any last-minute changes. Speakers should plan on attending.

Networking Reception
Monday, May 20 (Hilton Minneapolis - Headquarters Hotel)
This is the annual meeting’s central networking event and a way for you to reconnect with old friends while making new ones. Since people come to STLE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition from around the world, this truly is an international event. Relax, socialize and add to your list of professional contacts through this outstanding networking event.

Exhibitor Appreciation Hour
Back by popular demand, two hours of dedicated exhibit time will occur at this year’s show:
Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21 (3:00 pm-4:00 pm). Refreshments will be served in the trade show. Technical sessions, education courses, Commercial Marketing Forum presentations and all other annual meeting activities will cease at this time. Come support the meeting’s exhibitors—and find solutions to your most pressing technical issues.

President’s Luncheon
Tuesday, May 21 (Ticketed Event)
The annual meeting’s major business function draws virtually all attendees for a two-hour event honoring STLE’s incoming and outgoing presidents, award winners and top volunteers. Come honor 2023-2024 President Hong Liang with Texas A&M University and 2024-2025 President Jack McKenna with Sea-Land Chemical Company. A ticket for the President’s Luncheon is included in your meeting registration and free to STLE Corporate Member representatives (two tickets) and students. Guest tickets for the luncheon are $50 and can be purchased onsite at the STLE Registration Desk.

Women in Tribology Panel
Tuesday, May 21
This free-to-attend panel, open to all STLE Annual Meeting registrants, will focus on women in the industry with an emphasis on career paths and advice. There will be opening speakers along with interactive discussion with panelists. STLE invites participants to join and share your questions, thoughts and experiences on bringing more women into the industry and helping advance their careers. If you have questions or comments you’d like to submit before the event, please email community@stle.org. Click here to learn more about the panelists.

Worldwide Surface Topography Challenge
Wednesday, May 22
Tribological perfomance depends on surface topography in virtually all real-world applications. Yet conventional roughness parameters are insufficient predictors of adhesion, friction, and wear. Thus, there is a need for re-examination of surface topography by the entire tribology community. This plenary session will feature the Worldwide Surface Topography Challenge, where groups from around the world characterized the topography of the same surface. More than 150 tribologists participated, representing over 60 research groups and private companies from more than 20 countries. Together they contributed more than 2,000 individual measurements. This session will present the results of this two-year international collaboration. Click here to learn more the Surface Topography Challenge.

STLE is seeking sponsorships for the Keynote Session, Networking Reception,
Speakers Breakfast, President’s Luncheon, and Refreshment Breaks.

For more information, contact national sales manager Tracy Nicholas VanEe at (847) 430-6767, emeraldcomminc@yahoo.com.