The Society for Experimental Mechanics, originally called The Society for Experimental Stress Analysis, was founded in 1943 as a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with the original goal to "further the knowledge of stress and strain analysis and related technologies." In the years since its founding, SEM has continued to adapt itself to the needs of the members in the experimental mechanics community. The members of SEM encompass a unique group of experimentalists, development engineers, design engineers, test engineers and technicians, and research and development scientists from industry and educational institutions.