By Ashley V. Velazquez

Students from the Supply Chain and Logistics Technology (SCLT) program in the Technology Division of the Cullen College of Engineering proudly received recognition for their hard work on port and maritime student research posters at this year’s Port of the Future Conference, held at the University of Houston from April 2 to April 4.

The conference served as a great networking opportunity for leaders in the maritime industry to listen to keynote speakers, share experiences and connect with other professionals in their field. In addition to the conference, the International Propeller Club hosted the 2024 Student Research Poster Contest, where students were encouraged to create a poster based on the key issues and themes for this year’s conference.

Topics for the competition included Port Infrastructure 4.0, Port Development, Port Energy and Sustainability, Decarbonization and Alternate Fuels, Terminal Operations, Port Workforce, Development, Intermodal Connectivity, Port Security and Cybersecurity, and Enhancing the Port Eco-System.

While the majority of submissions were from UH students, other participating universities included Ho Chi Minh City International University, American Military University, University of Texas Arlington, among others.

The agenda included keynote speakers from the Port of Houston and former U.S. Ambassadors, along with panels and conferences composed of presidents, CEOs and other industry specialists from leading maritime institutes.

Kevin Velazquez, an SCLT student from UH, was one of the authors of “Shielding the Supply Chain: New Cybersecurity Measures,” a poster that focused on a new Executive Order regarding port cybersecurity laws.

“This was a great opportunity to showcase my skills and abilities,” he said. “I participated in the Breakbulk Research Poster Competition last year and realized I enjoy participating in these events. So, when the opportunity to create a poster for the Port of the Future came up, I said yes.”

Not only was this event a great way for students to use their skills, but it also left an impact on some students, an accomplishment they will remember throughout their undergraduate careers.

“When I received this award, I felt extremely grateful,” said Technology Leadership and Innovation student Maryam Alhagi, who also worked on the same poster. “Being a first-generation student has motivated me to reach for academic achievement such as this. This will no doubt stand out as part of my academic journey in the future.”

The team worked long hours to create their poster as they decided to change their topic two weeks before the due date, working on it even when a difficult family emergency arose for two of the team members during this time. The team saw the project to its end despite adversity.

Events like the Port of the Future conference are invaluable to UH students, since it allows them to showcase their hard work, knowledge and skills from their courses. They provide opportunities to help students build up their resumes, polish their skills, contribute to the industry, network with professionals, and proudly represent their university.