February 19-25 2012 Engineers WeekEWeek, also known as Engineering Week, is an annual celebration of the engineering profession. It serves as a hub for public awareness programs that showcase engineering and technology. This event, which is held every year during the week of President George Washington’s Birthday, is a national celebration. Many consider George Washington to have been the nation’s first engineer.
In this outreach effort, schools, corporations, museums and government media groups across the country will collaborate to sponsor programs and activities that highlight engineering and promote career opportunities in the field.
EWeek 2012 will focus on science, technology and engineering awareness. Many organizations will run programs to increase visibility for STEM education in the precollege education industry. ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), will host the Inspire Innovation workshop. This will bring together K-12 teachers and engineers for a full day of learning, enrichment, and fun.
“A thrust of the workshop is to motivate K-12 students to consider careers in the engineering profession, and also to inspire K-12 teachers to incorporate engineering into lesson plans as well as learn about tools and resources that can influence effective classroom instruction,”Victoria A. Rockwell, president of ASME.
ASME launches Engineers Week 2012 in a second program. “DiscoverE Educator Recognition Awards”Teachers in grades 6-12 who inspire students to explore engineering. These awards will be presented in Washington, D.C., where EWeek also hosts the Future City competition.
Engineers Week 2012 will be held in Washington DC, but towns and cities across the country are welcome to participate. Engineers Week also features other staples like “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day”The announcement of the “New Faces of Engineering,”It features rising stars of this profession.
Experts say the United States faces a shortage in scientific and engineering talent that will allow it to create next-generation technologies and compete on the global market. Engineers Week is a great way to address this problem and celebrate the many ways engineers and engineering have contributed to improving our quality of living around the world. For more information, visit www.asme.org.
