EWeek

EWeek 2009 ENews #9 – February 26, 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. Global Marathon 'Connecting Women to Engineer a Better Future; Because Dreams Need Doing'
2. Scholarship Available for High School Seniors
3. Techbridge Offers Summer Institute
4. In Local News

1. Global Marathon 'Connecting Women to Engineer a Better Future; Because Dreams Need Doing'
Now and into the future engineers and innovators will face new challenges and be called upon to play a vital role in helping solve the world's future health, safety, environmental and economic problems. To help prepare these leaders, National Engineers Week Foundation presents the 5th annual Global Marathon For, By and About Women in Engineering. Sponsored by Agilent, Motorola Foundation, and the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, this live, 24-hour worldwide forum provides information, insight, and inspiration for women and girls on topics related to careers in engineering and technology. The Global Marathon begins at noon (EDT) Wednesday, March 11th and runs continuously through noon (EDT), Thursday, March 12th. Marathon programming is being organized and facilitated in six regions: North America, South America, UK/Europe, Africa/Middle East, India, and China.

This year's Global Marathon, themed 'Connecting Women to Engineer a Better Future; Because Dreams Need Doing',willfeature virtual programming from around the world focusing on the benefits and wide-ranging career possibilities for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Participants will also be able to participate in post-marathon networking opportunities. The Global Marathon coincides with Women's History Month (March) in the U.S. and International Women's Day (March 8, 2009). The global event kicks off with a presentation by the Motorola Women's Business Council.

"As a woman with a passion for probing how technology can impact our world, I am eager to share that passion with future women business leaders and innovators," said Global Marathon Honorary Chairperson Leslie Jones, senior vice president, women's business council executive sponsor, and chief information officer, Motorola, Inc. "The Global Marathon offers young women a glimpse into some exciting career paths they might not have considered and gives them the chance to encourage and learn from one another. It's also a great opportunity for them to see how other women have excelled in engineering or technology-related fields."

"The Global Marathon is a great way to unite women from different cultures who have similar goals and experiences," said Maria de Magalhaes, a BP environmental engineer/advisor helping to organize the marathon in UK/Europe. "As a woman who was educated in Portugal, Austria, and the UK, I am just one example of the global nature of engineering and science. Engineering is a worldwide enterprise and that diversity makes us stronger as innovators and thought leaders."

In addition to the Global Marathon's 24 hours of virtual programming, a global text messaging contest will also be held, thanks to Motorola. Participants can describe "The Dream You'd Do" as an innovative engineer or scientist in 40 words or less and post their entries on the Global Marathon website. Those taking part in the Marathon worldwide can vote on their favorites. One winner per region will be announced on March 16th, with the winner receiving a mobile phone from Motorola.

You can join a session, offer to present or help build audience by promoting the Marathon to peers and students. For more information or to be part of the Global Marathon and to find coordinators in all regions, please visit http://www.eweek.org/EngineersWeek/GlobalMarathon.aspx.

2. Scholarship Available for High School Seniors
'The Next Generation Scholarship' is a joint effort by JETS and Power Engineering Magazine to increase student interest in the electric power industry by awarding $5,000 scholarships for students to pursue a college engineering education. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to one or more 12th grade student(s) planning to pursue an engineering career in a field related to electric power generation (for example, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, or materials engineering). If you know a 12th grade student interested in engineering send them to The Next Generation Scholarship by JETS to apply online! The deadline to submit an application is March 13.

3. Techbridge Offers Summer Institute
Are you interested in developing or enhancing a program to encourage girls in technology, science, or engineering? Would you like to gain girl-tested, hands-on curriculum and learn strategies for success? The Techbridge Summer Training Institute will be hosted August 3-5, 2009 in Oakland, CA. A program of Chabot Space & Science Center, Techbridge has served over 2,500 girls in after-school and summer programs since 2000, offering hands-on engineering and technology projects and career exploration opportunities such as field trips to corporate worksites and classroom visits by role models. During the Summer Institute, participants will be trained on our curriculum –such as Green Design, Renewable Energy, Circuitry and Electronics, and Cars & Engines - while learning the tools and strategies for achieving success to engage girls in technology and science. For more information, please visit: http://www.techbridgegirls.org/programs_institute.asp or contact Jennifer Wei at jwei@chabotspace.org or 510-777-9170 x308.

4. In Local News
Engineers Week is a global celebration of the engineering profession – in Ireland this is known as 'Engineered! A Week of Wonder'. School children across Ireland were encouraged to discover the engineer within them during the 'Engineered! A Week of Wonder' initiative. Devised and promoted by Engineers Ireland, this 5-day celebration of engineering (scheduled during the Spring mid-term break) aims to generate awareness and enthusiasm about the world of engineering through a range of fun and challenging interactive events.

One such event was 'Be An Engineer For A Day', which took place on February 13th on the IBM Dublin Technology Campus. IBM volunteers opened the door to 'a world of engineering' with third class students from St. Pat's Boys National School. Reporting on the event, Donnacha McCarrick, IBM Dublin EWeek coordinator, said "The purpose of the day was to provide an opportunity for children to learn more about the world of engineering in a fun, informative and interactive environment. The students demonstrated fantastic aptitude for teamwork and problem solving and in the process had a lot of fun. No doubt we will see some of these budding engineers working for IBM in the future."

CLICK FOR DUBLIN EVENT PHOTO PAGE

Raytheon Company celebrated Engineers Week at more than 25 locations, including hands-on science and math demonstrations at Epcot® Theme Park in Orlando, Florida, where, on February 17 19 in the Wonders of Life pavilion, Raytheon engineers showed nearly 350 local students how to make snow using fundamental engineering and mathematical principles. In Arizona, Raytheon executive and former NASA astronaut Don McMonagle shared his experiences in space, including on the shuttles Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis, with more than 100 students, while in El Segundo, California, Deanne Bell, host of the Discovery Channel's "Smash Lab," and NASCAR driver Leilani Munter led a discussion with students on how math and science make their careers possible. In Maryland, middle school students from Riverdale attended the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference with Raytheon engineers. In Texas, McKinney and Dallas students participated in "Lunch and learn" and interactive, math-themed games with Raytheon engineers, while in Plano students competed to build wind turbines.
For details on these and other Raytheon EWeek activities, click here.

Maine Engineering Promotional Council celebrated Maine Engineers Week with a Kid Fest that included a ZOOM Into Engineering activity area; speakers from the Phoenix Mars Mission who related their work directly to the kids in a wonderful way; and a FIRST Robotics demonstration. The event was covered on local News Channel 8

-----------------------------------------

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.

Previous issues of the EWEEK ENEWS available here .