Engineer's Week Activities

Engineers Week is:
When: Celebrated annually during the week of George Washington's birthday, February 22nd, one of our countries first engineers.

What: A national event that is designed to get engineers to promote the study of engineering to students.

Stephanie Mages led the ASHRAE Nation's Chapter activities at the National Building Museum at the Discover Engineering Family Day during National Engineers Week, Saturday, February 19th, 2005 and Saturday, February 18th, 2006. This year's event will be Saturday, February 17th, 2007.

http://eweekdcfamilyday.org/

We had 3 experiments, Balloon Tension w/ clear cups, Parachute drop w/ a small fan and a diffuser, and a snake spiral, involving heat. It was a great success all around, both the volunteers and participants left with smiles on their faces! There were over 6000 participants from all over the DC, MD, VA area; each student was exposed to engineering in a very hands-on fashion.
Other ASHRAE-NC volunteers for Discover Engineering Family Day include: Pete Collat, Anne Juran, Ken Herne, Brad Snodgrass, Dunstan Macauley, Gerry Iacouzze, Journey Williams, Mike Darnell, Saunders Smith, Scott Parr, Gerard McGill, and Lee Guill.

http://www.nbm.org/Events/Calendar/Family.html

Stephanie Mages also participated in the judging for the Best Indoor Environment Award, sponsored by ASHRAE National at the Future Cities Competition with Bill Sutton. Judging took, place Monday, February 21st, 2005, awards were given out on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2005. The judging is based on the creativity of the model, as well as the student's forethought into how the system would work, in relationship to the environment that the city is located. One picture is attached, of the Buffalo school team winners. 2006 Stephanie Mages and Edward Donnelly judged for the same award. In 2007 ASHRAE National will be sponsoring the Best Indoor Environment Award and the Most Sustainable Building.

http://www.futurecity.org/ (see press releases)

Pete Collat annually leads a bridge building competition at a local elementary school throughout Engineers Week. During the competition, the 5th and 6th grade students, in groups, make a paper bridge and its job is to hold as many quarters as possible. This competition helps students get a hands-on introduction to engineering. Pete also demonstrates the basics laws of buoyancy with Cartesian divers to the 3rd and 4th grade students during Engineers Week.