Robert Erck Presentation Award (STLE Student Poster Competition)

STLE is seeking student posters for the 2026 Annual Meeting & Exhibition in New Orleans, LA. Event organizers are inviting students from all areas of tribology research to participate in a special session dedicated to student posters. Posters must deal with an aspect of tribology research that can be translated into friction, wear, and lubrication. Poster research topics can be co-authored by faculty and other researchers. Only students may exhibit their posters and discuss their work at the session. The posters will be judged by a conference committee, and awards will be given to the best posters.

Note: The Board of Directors has approved the renaming of the student poster presentation competition to the Robert Erck Presentation Award.

*Please note students must be registered to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting to participate in the poster session.



Submission Criteria Requirements

• Abstract submission deadline: March 2, 2026. (Click here to submit poster abstract). Notification of acceptance will be sent out to students shortly after this date.
• The poster must present original work by the student during the 2025-2026 academic year.
• The student may submit only one poster as the lead author.
• As the lead author of the poster, the student should have performed the major portion of the work.
• Lead authors must be full-time graduate or undergraduate students registered during the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Posters can be no larger than 48 x 48 inches.
• Posters must be set up Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. The author must be present at the poster display during the judging session on Monday, May 18, during lunch and the scheduled conference break that afternoon.

Award Categories (*three winners in each category)

• Platinum: superior scientific and presentation quality ($300 prize)
• Gold: good technical quality ($200 prize)
• Silver: overall quality worthy to be encouraged ($100 prize)