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National Engineers Week Foundation Engineers Week 2008 The National Engineers Week Foundation, a formal coalition of more than 75 professional societies, major corporations and government agencies, is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers among young students and by promoting pre-college literacy in math and science. Engineers Week also raises public understanding and appreciation of engineers' contributions to society. Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, it is among the oldest of America's professional outreach efforts. Co-chairs for 2008 are IBM and the Chinese Institute of Engineers-USA. Design Squad– In Season Two, “Design Squad” includes a national invention contest, new resources and trainings for volunteers, and special work with after-school organizations. Engineers Week partners worked with WGBH-Boston to develop and deploy hundreds of volunteers and dozens of trainings and special events for the launch of this PBS television reality show in 2007.The show, with accompanying Web site and outreach campaign, targets 9-12 year olds and is part reality competition, all engineering, and major fun. During each show an engineer is featured in a 60-second profile. National Engineers Week Future City™ Competition – Since its founding in 1992, Future City has introduced hundreds of thousands of young people to engineering. Each year, more than 30,000 students are energized about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Teams of middle school students work with teachers and volunteer engineer-mentors to create cities of tomorrow through software design, modeling, research and writing, and oral presentations. Regional Finals are held in January and the National Finals are held in Washington, D.C., in February during Engineers Week. International Future City pilot programs are held in Japan, Egypt, and Sweden. A spin-off program, called Future Cities 2020 is held in New Delhi, India. Cyberchase: Math in Science and Engineering– “Cyberchase” is a wildly popular action-packed math adventure for young children produced by THIRTEEN/WNET-NY (PBS).Engineers Week partners receive specially-produced resource kits to “join the Cyberchase” and make the engineering connection with young children.The upcoming television season will focus on making math connections to building and sports.Previous seasons and materials have focused on inventing and engineering. DiscoverE – More than 45,000 engineers work with five and a half million students and teachers in elementary through secondary schools each year through classroom visits and extracurricular programs, using educational materials provided by Engineers Week. DiscoverE began for EWeek 1990. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day(February 21, 2008) – Each year “Girl Day” allows thousands of women engineers, with support from their male counterparts, to directly mentor more than one million girls and young women in K-12 with firsthand experiences in engineering. This section of the www.eweek.org website has been translated into Spanish. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day Global Outreach– The next “Global Marathon For, By and About Women in Engineering” occurs in March 2008. During a continuous 24-hour period, 48 “events” take place via live Internet chats, telephone conversations and Webcasts from points originating around the globe.Engineers Week headquarters launched the first marathon in 2005. The second marathon took place in March 2006, with presentations originating from 11 countries.The 2007 marathon was chaired by an industry executive and former US Astronaut Sally Ride and, for the first time, included live Webcasts and women from Poland and Egypt. Extraordinary Women Engineers Project – The National Engineers Week Foundation serves as the Secretariat for this spectacular project, supported by a large and broad coalition.The EWEP’s first product was the acclaimed book Changing Our World: True Stories of Women Engineers, published in 2006. Currently the project is researching, developing and testing messages and slogans about engineering careers that will resonate with academically-capable high school girls. A cornerstone of this outreach is a two-year campaign with the National Association of College Admissions Counselors to reach students and their parents at college fairs. Family event – Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., continues to break all public attendance records for the museum. Volunteers conduct interactive hands-on exhibitions. This event serves as a model for similar family programs throughout the U.S. Engineers Without Borders™ - USA and Engineers for a Sustainable World— These global organizations deliver sustainable and appropriate engineering solutions to communities in need. Volunteers are always needed, and participating organizations around the world can extend EWB’s and ESW’s reach by connecting students and young engineers with engineering mentors and advisors of all ages. New Faces of Engineering – Young engineers who have been in the workplace five years or less and have shown outstanding abilities in projects that significantly impact public welfare or further professional development and growth are recognized for their accomplishments in major print media and local press. Engineers Week - The site contains the nuts and bolts of how to organize and run a local Engineers Week program, with a special section for “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day,” hosts the Local Event forums, features the New Faces of Engineering, offers a storehouse of classroom activity suggestions for all grade levels, and provides information for media. As Engineers Week becomes more global, this site becomes increasingly important in making materials and ideas accessible. Sightseers Guide to Engineering – This website celebrates engineering marvels from the subtle to the spectacular in all 50 states. The public can also join in the recognition and appreciation of the achievements of America's engineers by submitting their own favorites. Discover Engineering – Middle school students can find the how and why of becoming an engineer at this entertaining and informational website, which features links to related educational, professional, and corporate sites. This site will be re-designed in 2008 and become the portal for a new DVD series for middle school students. Printed and AV Materials– Engineers Week headquarters prepares and distributes a variety of support materials for local EWeek programs.For 2008 we plan to produce a new DVD for volunteers to use with middle school students.Other products include student guidance materials, “how-to” instructions, promotional materials such as buttons and caps, a variety of video products and, each year, a new graphic/poster to inspire excitement and pride in the engineering profession. See www.eweek.org or call (703) 684-2852 for more information on each of these programs and materials to support them. The National Engineers Week Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. TIN 32-0039097.
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National Engineers Week Foundation
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