National Engineers Week 2005 was celebrated February 20-26. Feel free to forward this letter or contents to other interested parties.

Contents

1. Calling All Campers
2. Answering the Question
3. News You Can Use: Local Events
4. Beyond the Sea: International Events

1. Calling All Campers
If you know young students who might be interested in exploring engineering this summer, check out a listing of summer camps at http://www.engineeringedu.com/summercamps.html. The Engineering Education Service Center compiled the list.

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2. Answering the Question: Why Are Academically-Prepared Girls not Entering Engineering?
Want to know what high school girls want to know about engineering? A recent needs-assessment survey of academically-prepared high school girls shows that potential engineering students want to know about “lifestyle” issues, like salary, working in teams, and flexibility to have a personal life, to name a few. The survey was conducted as part of a project called “Women Engineers and the Extraordinary Ways They’ve Changed Our Lives.” Learn more at http://www.eweek.org/site/News/Eweek/pallasch.ppt.

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3. News You Can Use
The University of Houston ’s Cullen College of Engineering hosts a summer camp and will use Engineers Week’s idea to adapt fairy tales with an engineering slant. GRADE Camp is a week-long summer program for high school females who are interested in engineering. During one of the fun down-time activities, participants will work in groups to create adapted stories, read them to the other groups in the room, and win prizes. Contact is Jenny Ruchhoeft at jennyr@uh.edu. Check out www.egr.uh.edu/camps/grade.

Applied Biosystems, headquartered in Foster City , California , participated in Engineers Week for the first time and it was a great start. Engineers met with 317 students at six schools in the Bay Area. Contact is Allen Perry at allen.perry@appliedbiosystems.com.

Congratulations to the Worcester, Massachusetts, Polytechnic Institute for receiving the first Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day Award presented by WEPAN and National Engineers Week headquarters. The award is presented to a WEPAN member for significant contributions to Girl Day.

Westinghouse Savannah River Company, in partnership with the Central Savannah River Area Section (CSRA) of the Society of Women Engineers and the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center , invited 63 central Savannah River area middle schools to submit the names of two eighth grade girls to participate in "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.” A workshop was held at the science education center located on the campus of the University of South Carolina - Aiken campus. Female engineers from the Savannah River Site shared the message that engineering careers are fascinating, fun, and ideally suited for girls who want to make a difference in the world. Girls attending the workshop spoke informally with female role models working in various engineering fields to learn about their personal and professional lives. They also participated in fun, hands-on activities throughout the day withother girls in the CSRA interested in math and science. Contact is Judy Spencer at judy.spencer@srs.gov.

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4. Beyond the Sea
IEEE’s Women in Engineering Winnipeg ( Canada ) Affinity Group Chapter participated in the February 20th Robotics Workshop in partnership with the Manitoba Robot Games at the Manitoba Museum as part of Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. They worked with Manitoba Hydro's Aboriginal Girls Summer Camp Girls Group. Contact is Jennifer Jessop at jenjessop@ieee.org.

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To submit content or comments, or to be added to our email distribution list, please e-mail eweek@nspe.org. All suggestions will be considered.

Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, Engineers Week (February 20-26, 2005) is celebrated annually by thousands of engineers, engineering students, teachers, and leaders in government and business. In 1988, the National Engineers Week consortium expanded its scope and now includes more than 100 engineering, scientific, and education societies and major corporations dedicated to enhancing the public understanding of the engineering profession and to promoting pre-college interest in math, science, and engineering as a career option.

Previous issues of the EWEEK ENEWS available here.

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National Engineers Week Foundation
1420 King Street   Alexandria, VA 22314
tel. 703.684.2852   email: eweek@nspe.org