 |
|
 |
 |
Despite Tough Times, Young Students In Engineering Competition Expect A Better Future For America's Cities Devastating events of the past few months and long-term problems such as global warming seem to have done little to dampen hopes for the future among seventh- and eighth-graders in the National Engineers Week Future City Competition™. Indeed, their futuristic concepts reflect a surefooted optimism that cities will be safer, cleaner, and all-around better places to live. More than 30,000 middle school students from 950 schools across the country participated in the not-for-profit competition. Now, first place teams from 27 regional competitions held in January are going on all-expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C. to vie in national finals, hosted by Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the engineering software company, during National Engineers Week. The Competition Finals are held from 8:30 AM to 12 noon at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 19 and 20. First prize is a trip to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. National Engineers Week, February 17-23, 2002, is co-chaired this year by the American Society of Civil Engineers and DuPont. Students begin at the start of the school year and complete the computer portion using SimCity 3000™ software, donated by Maxis, based in Walnut Creek, California. At regional competitions, students present their computer model, 3-D scale model, a 300- to 500-word essay about an urban problem -- this year's theme is research, exploration, generation, and conservation of energy -- and a 100- to 200-word abstract on their city and its services. The city designs going to Washington evidence broad expectations for a brighter future, with such advancements as non-polluting energy sources, colonization of space and universal access for the handicapped. Still, these virtual cities are securely grounded in reality, with students battling crime, unemployment, pollution, traffic jams and a host of other problems, all with a balanced budget. Despite dealing with these seemingly intractable social dilemmas, however, regional finalists say they have faith in a better tomorrow. "Cities will be more efficient and safer," predicts Kristine Carter, a 13-year-old from Pine Middle School in Reno, representing Northern Nevada at national finals. "New technology will make it safer," she adds, "and I don't think there will be as much terrorism." The attacks of September 11 influenced several designs, but it appears students proceeded undaunted. "Some students talked about fireproofing and buildings withstanding impacts," says Erik Mateljan, a teacher whose team from Jefferson Middle School in Oceanside will represent the southern California region, but worries of terrorism "didn't hold them back." Wendy Fenner, P.E., who serves as Future City coordinator for the Las Vegas region, notes that recent events appeared to be on the minds of several schools in her area. "Kids call and ask if they could focus on anti-terrorism," she says. "I said, 'Of course.'" Ryan Jeppsen, an eighth-grader from Rogich Middle School, the Las Vegas representative at national finals, predicts that even though the future will bring "extremely tall buildings," they will be equipped with "missiles in turrets" to deter attacks. Begun in 1993 by the engineering community as a way to increase engineering awareness among young people, Future City has rapidly become one of the most successful educational programs of its kind. Student teams working with a teacher and volunteer engineer mentor from the community fabricate a metropolis from the ground up, solving intricate problems of math, science and technology along the way. The National Engineers Week Committee, a consortium of more than 100 engineering societies and corporations, sponsors the competition to offer fun, hands-on experiences in engineering and entice middle school students to take more math and science courses. "Future City taps the best in every child and it taps the best in communities as it brings together schools, parents, volunteer engineers and others for a positive and powerful learning experience," says National Director Carol Rieg. "Meanwhile, students see that engineering has something to offer them, and, more importantly, they see what they have to offer engineering." At the national competition, each team will defend its design before a panel of judges -- engineers, city planners, a former astronaut, and others -- who pepper students with questions on everything from city infrastructure to where they would want to live in their future city, and why. And the answers will almost invariably be positive. "Sun City is a safe, clean city with an excellent transportation system, fun attractions and high paying jobs," write the students from St. John Neumann Catholic School in Miami about the city representing Florida at national finals. "This sunny city is lush with trees, landscapes, and beautiful waterfront views for everyone to enjoy." But even optimism at its sunniest is tempered by inescapable real world problems. Population growth will make for denser cities and less open space, say many of the children. "I'm not sure if the future's going to be better or worse," wonders Aric Austermann, whose school, Powder Mill Middle School in Southwick, Massachussetts, will represent his state at nationals for the second year in a row. "Cities could be so industrialized and crowded that it will be difficult to get through town or so advanced that you can travel at the push of a button." Yet, overall, students express confidence in the promise of the future. Bevy Burgess, a student from Lawton Christian School, Oklahoma's representative at nationals, looks forward to the day that real cities will be like the one she and classmates designed for Future City. "We're going to have things for the handicapped that will regenerate nerves and artificial limbs that you can attach to nerves," she says. "It could be for real." # # #
|
 |
National Engineers Week Foundation
|