National Engineers Week Expands Its Reach
Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 3/1/2002
Even though it is difficult to measure the tangible effects that National Engineers Week—which took place February 17-23—has on improving the public's awareness of engineering, program organizers have reported some indications that the program is working.
One of the program's new offerings, "Zoom into Engineering," provided engineers with toolkits to visit grade schools and spark interest in math and science. Although there are no hard numbers to report, Anne Squire, a program manager for National Engineers Week, indicated that there were approximately 30,000 requests for planning kits this year. In addition, organizers put on a local Zoom into Engineering family festival in Washington, D.C.—an event which typically would have drawn 1,000 to 1,500 people, and brought in more than 5,000 this year.
"Engineers are getting out and putting a face on an otherwise faceless profession," notes Leslie Collins, executive director of National Engineers Week.
Further, 100 different organizations participated in the program's "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" this year.
"National Engineer's Week has been a great opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of the engineering profession and increase public awareness and appreciation of modern technology," concurs Don Colliver, ASHRAE's president-elect, one of next year's National Engineering Week sponsors.
