EWeek

EWeek 2009 ENews #6 – February 10, 2009

Engineers Week 2009 will be celebrated February 15 – 21. Co-chairs are Intel Corporation and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Feel free to forward this letter or contents to other interested parties.

Contents:
1. Engineer Tops List as Future Career for Kids!
2. Not so Fast!
3. Volunteer Alert!
4. 2009 EWeek Items ON SALE online
5. CIE/USA Annual Awards
6. In Local News

1. Engineer Tops List as Future Career for Kids!
According to the results of the ninth annual Junior Achievement "Kids and Careers" poll, teen interest in a career as a "business person" has declined. "Engineering or science occupation" and "doctor" tied for first place, each selected by 16 percent of 12-17 year-olds as their ideal career. "Business person" came in fifth place, after "entertainer," "professional athlete" and "teacher." For five consecutive years in which Junior Achievement conducted the poll, "business person" was teens' top career choice. The 2009 poll was funded by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and surveyed 750 teens nationwide. The decline in teens' interest in business careers could be attributed to the current state of the economy, and teens' desire to pursue careers with greater perceived job security and income potential. Commenting on the survey results, Jack E. Kosakowski, president of Junior Achievement USA, noted, "With all that has happened lately in the financial sector, it is possible that teens are unsure about careers in the business." The 2009 Junior Achievement Kids and Careers Poll was conducted by Opinion Research.

2. Not so Fast!
An overwhelming 85% of kids say that they are not interested in a future engineering career for a variety of reasons, according to recent surveys of youth and adults conducted by Harris Interactive® on behalf of ASQ (American Society for Quality). Survey results indicate the top reasons why kids may not be interested in pursuing engineering, including: kids don't know much about engineering (44%), they prefer a more exciting career than engineering (30%) and they don't feel confident enough in their math or science skills (21%) to be good at it— despite the fact that the largest number of kids ranked math (22%) and science (17%) as their favorite subjects. Read the full release

3. Volunteer Alert!
Don't forget to help us record 'One Million Hours' of engineer volunteer outreach. Go to www.eweek.org or directly to the 'One Million Hours Initiative' portal.

4. 2009 EWeek Items ON SALE online
While supplies last, selected dated items in the Online Store have been discounted! This super-sale will continue until the end of February.

5. CIE/USA Annual Awards
On February 21 in San Jose, California, the Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA will present two special awards: Dr. Roger Tsien, the 2008 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry and a professor at the University of California, San Diego, will receive the Distinguished Science and Technology Award, and Dr. Jeong Kim, president of Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs will be awarded with the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award. For more information about 14 additional AAEOY award recipients and CIE, please visit http://www.cie-usa.org/

6. In Local News
The Eweek Forum has postings of so many events around the country that we don't have room to mention them all. Check the next newsletter for more, and go to http://www.eweek.org/site/forums/forums.asp?ForumSection=1 for details on these and other events in your area.

Tucson, Arizona
The annual Engineers Week Mall Day is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2009 from 10AM to 3PM at the Foothills Mall located in northwest Tucson.(Inda Road & La Cholla Road). To participate, contact: dyu@rsengineering.com

Redding, California
Society of Women Engineers presents Engineering Week Event at the Redding Library with an engineering story and fun engineering activities ( build a paper tower, make a "Flinker"). Thursday, February 19, 4-5 p.m. for children of all ages and their parents.

La Mesa, California
The San Diego section of ASCE Younger Member Forum hosts the annual Engineering Day at the Mall on Saturday, February 21st from 10 am – 3 pm at Grossmont Center in La Mesa. Activities include making a water filter, wind farm, and aluminum foil boats.

Chicago, Illinois
On Friday, February 20, 2009, Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. in West Chicago will hold their fifth annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day from 4-6:30PM. The event is for girls in 5th through 10th grade and hosted by woman engineers. Activities include five FUN experiments associated with different engineering disciplines, a short video about engineering, and a factory tour. contact jayne.beck@siemens.com

Rochester, New York
From ASCE: visit their "Hands On" Exhibit Booth at the Rochester Museum & Science Center on February 21st as part of the 2009 Engineers Week celebration.

Ann Arbor, Michigan
At the University of Michigan's College of Engineering in Ann Arbor, events planned for the week of February 9-13 include a "Jumpstart Breakfast," a Grand Banquet, and various events run by engineering societies. For more information, visit umich.edu/~eweek.

Washington, D.C.
The National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation welcome families, scout groups, and all curious visitors to participate in a day-long festival packed with demonstrations, competitions, and hands-on fun for all ages. Explore the inner workings of a real race car, take your picture with Digit from PBS's Cyberchase, and meet Nate Ball, host of PBS's Design Squad. The National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC. Red Line Metro, Judiciary Square. See www.eweekdcfamilyday.org.

NW Oregon and SW Washington
Outreach program for high school sophomores and juniors partners high school students with local, practicing engineers for a day of engineering-oriented field trips, exhibit hall and banquet. Students sign up through their high school science and math teachers. Engineer hosts and sponsors register through Tova Peltz at tova.r.peltz@odot.state.or.us. Call Tova at 503-731-4850 for more information.

Seattle, Washington
On Saturday, Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Museum of Flight and the Puget Sound Engineering Council will host the annual Engineering Fair. Activities include on-site engineers, popsicle stick bridge competition, and a huge scale model show.

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The National Engineers Week Foundation coalition comprises more than 75 engineering, professional, and technical societies and more than 50 corporations and government agencies. The coalition is dedicated to sustaining and growing a dynamic engineering profession by ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce, increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers among young students, and promoting pre-college literacy in math and science. Among the oldest of America's professional outreach efforts, the coalition also raises public understanding and appreciation of engineering contributions to society through year-round innovative programming and celebration.

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