National Engineers Week Foundation
Engineers Week 2012
The National Engineers Week Foundation, a formal coalition of more than 100 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 (NSPE), it is among the oldest of America's professional outreach efforts. Co-chairs for 2012 are American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and Battelle.
Engineers Week
The Foundation’s signature program, Engineers Week celebrates the positive contributions engineers make to society and is a catalyst for outreach across the country to kids and adults alike. Engineers Week is part of many corporate and government cultures and is celebrated on every U.S. engineering college campus.
Discover Engineering Family Day (February 18, 2012)
Held each year at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., this action-packed event consistently draws 6,500+ attendees. Over 29 exhibitors and 300+ volunteers, kids and their families build ziplines to safely deliver marbles, explore buoyancy via tinfoil boats, and learn about waves via a giant wave tank, and much, much more.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day® (always the Thursday of Engineers Week)
Each year “Girl Day” gives thousands of women engineers, with support from their male counterparts, the chance to directly mentor more than one million girls and young women in grades K through12. This section of the www.eweek.org website has been translated into Spanish.
New Faces of Engineering
Recognizing the accomplishments of young engineers is the goal of this program. Established in 2003 over 450 engineers have been featured in print and online. These engineers, age 30 years or younger, have shown outstanding abilities in projects that significantly impact public welfare or further professional development and growth.
DiscoverE Classroom Visits®
More than 45,000 engineers work with 5,500,000 students and teachers in elementary through secondary school each year through classroom visits and extracurricular programs, using educational materials provided by the National Engineers Week Foundation.
National Engineers Week Future City Competition® (www.futurecity.org)
Operating in 37 regions, Future City works with over
1,300 schools and reaches over 35,000 students. in a semester-long program. This engaging program challenges middle school students to design a city 150 years into the future. Starting with just their imaginations and SimCity software, teams of 3 students, supported by a teacher and an engineer mentor come up with ingenious solutions they represent in three-dimensional scale models. Each January, thousands of students participate in regional competitions presenting their designs before a panel of volunteer engineer judges. First place regional teams win a trip to Washington for National Finals, held each year during National Engineers Week. The President of the United States recently recognized Future City at the first White House Science and Engineering Fair.
Discover Engineering (www.discoverengineering.org)
This dynamic web site is designed to showcase the hows and whys of becoming an engineer to middle school students and educators. The site features an exciting video series and related hands on challenges, career information, engineer profiles, and links to related educational, professional, and corporate sites.
MyDiscoverE (www.mydiscover-e.org)
The Foundation’s latest offering, this new site is a rich searchable database filled with engineering events, workshops, and camp programs that will become the go-to place for families looking for opportunities in their area.
Sightseers Guide to Engineering (www.engineeringsights.org)
Plan your next trip to visit some of these engineering marvels, or visit all 50 states—while not leaving your house. From the subtle to the spectacular, visitors not only learn more about America’s rich engineering feats but are encouraged to submit their own favorites.
Global Marathon For, By and About Women in Engineering® (www.globalmarathon.net)
Imagine getting the chance to talk to women engineers from around the world for four hours each day over a 6-day period. Women (and men) from North America, South America, China, India, Middle East/Africa, and UK/Europe discuss universal topics—how to encourage girls and young women to consider engineering as a career, advice on career paths for young engineers, achieving a life/work balance, and benefits of networking. The Marathon happens each March via live Internet chats, telephone conversations and Webcasts.
Cyberchase (pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase)
Cyberchase is a wildly popular action-packed math adventure for young children produced by WNET-NY (PBS). National Engineers Week Foundation coalition partners receive specially-produced resource kits to “join the Cyberchase” and make the engineering connection with young children. Previous seasons and materials have focused on inventing, building, and engineering.
Design Squad Nation (pbs.org/designsquad)
Shifting away from the reality competition format of past seasons, coalition partner Design Squad Nation sends two new co-hosts Judy and Adam across the county and around the world, to work side-by-side with kids to turn their dreams into reality – via engineering. The TV show, website, and extensive outreach campaign are sparking kids inventive spirit to engage them in content-rich engineering challenges.
Engineer Your Life (EYL) (www.engineeryourlife.org)
The National Engineers Week Foundation is secretariat for Engineer Your Life. EYL is a ground-breaking messaging campaign that is successfully challenging high school girls, teachers, and counselors outdated stereotypes about engineering. Based on the results of an extensive nationwide survey identifying what girls want—careers that are creative, collaborative, personally fulfilling, and most of all socially relevant, EYL is making a compelling case to high school girls through a web site, promotional materials, and national workshops for engineers and educators.
Printed and AV Materials
The Foundation prepares and distributes a variety of support materials including student guidance materials, “how-to” instructions, promotional materials such as buttons and caps, a variety of DVDs and video products and, each year, a new poster to inspire excitement and pride in the engineering profession.
See www.eweek.org, email info@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 32-32-0039097. |