EWeek

EWeek 2006 ENews #15 – February 8, 2006

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

1. Northrop Grumman Commits $250K in Education Grant as Part of Engineers Week Initiative
Northrop Grumman Foundation will sponsor 1,000 educational grants of $250 each to help spur middle-school students' interest in math and science. Teachers may use these one-time "Connecting Educators to Engineering Math and Science" grants toward developing innovative teaching techniques, additional classroom activities or curriculum enhancements for math, science and engineering technology-related projects. The grants may also be applied toward purchasing books and equipment or for field trips that would otherwise be unfunded.

"We want young people to see the excitement of math and science," says Sandra J. Evers-Manly, vice president of ethics and diversity and president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. "These grants will give teachers the extra resources they need to fire the imaginations of middle-school students and encourage them to pursue technical educations."

The grants are available to public schools and accredited private schools for use by full-time classroom teachers of students in grades 5 through 8. Applications are available via the Community Relations link at the Northrop Grumman website and are due by March 30. Grant awards will be announced April 26.

The program is part of Northrop Grumman's co-sponsorship, with the Society of Women Engineers, of National Engineers Week 2006. "With the demand for technical professionals outstripping supply, we need to steer today's students towards math, science and engineering," said Evers-Manly. "These disciplines are central to America's future economic competitiveness, quality of life and national security. We will depend on today's middle schoolers for these in the not too distant future."

The Northrop Grumman Foundation is primarily focused on supporting diverse and sustainable programs that improve the educational experience for students, especially in the subjects of literacy, math, science and technology.

2. This Week Online
"Connecting Engineers with the Pre-University Community" and "Creating Effective Partnerships with Teachers" are the topics for online workshops February 9. The programs are part of the "Connecting Educators to Engineering" initiative for Engineers Week 2006. The pre-university topic is at 11:00 AM EST and will be handled by Douglas Gorham, Director of Educational Outreach for the IEEE. From St. Mary's County, Maryland, Public Schools Kenneth L. Smith, Instructional Supervisor for Career and Technology Education, and Kim M. Weaver, Teacher, lead the session on effective partnerships. That program begins at 4:30 PM, EST. Register for either session or both. They're free!

3. And the Winners Are......
The Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE) - USA will host its annual Asian American Engineer of the Year Awards event on February 25 in Seattle. The awards recognize outstanding engineers, leaders, and scientists. Gary Locke, former governor of Washington State, is honorary chairman and is currently featured in a local television ad. Click here to see the ad.

The National Academy of Engineering will present its major annual awards on February 21. NAE will present the Charles Stark Draper Prize for engineers whose contributions have significantly impacted society by improving the quality of life. The Bernard M. Gordon Prize recognizes improvements in engineering and technology education.

4. TOYChallenge in the Works
Awards of a different kind are in the works. Engineers and educators will judge a preliminary round of competition for East Coast entries in the TOYChallenge by Sally Ride Science on February 18. The judging session coincides with the National Building Museum's Discover Engineering Family Day in Washington, D.C. Judges will select 50-60 entries to recommend for the national finals. Finalists receive modest funding to model prototypes. The TOYChallenge is a national challenge for fifth - eighth graders. Kids work in teams to imagine and design new toys and games. One of the grand prizes comes from Hasbor personalized figures in each team member's likeness.

5. In Local News
The IEEE Central Indiana Section invites visitors to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis on February 18th to kick off National Engineers Week. Children will get the chance to meet and talk with engineers and explore the many opportunities that engineering offers. Several hands on activities will give children the chance to think and act like an engineer.

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Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, Engineers Week ( February 19-25, 2006) 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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