NATIONAL ENGINEERING & GEOSCIENCE WEEK

Events Provide Glimpses of Visions of Things to Come

Judge Max Scharfenberger looks over newspaper towers created at the Edmonton Science Olympics, March 1 at the Shaw Conference Centre. The event, which attracted about 400 student competitors, was one of many APEGGA supported during National Engineering and Geoscience Week, March 1-8.

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BY Tara Madden
Public Relations Coordinator

From Science Olympics to bridge building competitions, professionals and students alike took math and science out of the classrooms and into the realm of hands-on applications as part of National Engineering and Geoscience Week, March 1-9.

NEGW is an annual event designed to increase public awareness about the important role engineers, geologists and geophysicists play in the everyday lives of Canadians. This year's theme, Visions of Things to Come, reminded us there is much more to come from these talented professionals.

In Alberta, APEGGA sponsored a number of events across the province to showcase the impressive work done by engineers and geoscientists on a daily basis.

For the eighth straight year, APEGGA teamed up with the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald to issue a supplement highlighting the province's vibrant engineering and geoscience communities. Reaching more than 700,000 households in Alberta, the supplement hit the streets Feb. 27. Advertising from APEGGA members, permit holders, and employers of APEGGA professionals supported the production of this promotional publication.

Egg launchers and mechanical jousts took centre stage at the Edmonton Science Olympics, March 1 at the Shaw Conference Centre. About 400 students competed for gold in a variety of hands-on science events, including take-home events and "mystery" events revealed to teams on the day of the competition. Alberta Milk donated milk and cookies to all competitors and APEGGA's Outreach Program provided a hands-on science booth for spectators.

The Peace Country and Fort McMurray branches sponsored similar Science Olympics in their regions, with impressive turnouts and enthusiastic competitors.

Students in Calgary were invited to enter APEGGA's Poster and Essay Contests. Budding Picassos in grades 1-6 designed posters based on the Visions of Things to Come theme. Top designers won a pizza party at the Calgary Science Centre.

An essay contest asked aspiring writers in grades 7-9 to detail one of the great engineering feats of the 20th century or one of the geological wonders of Alberta. Top writers spent a day as an engineer, geologist or geophysicist.

Bridging the gap between classroom concepts and practical application, the Provincial School Challenge gave students across Alberta an opportunity to use the principles of physics, combined with structural and materials engineering principles. Teams of students in grades 1-12 were challenged to design a Popsicle stick bridge that could hold the most weight while weighing the least. More than 100 entries were received and winning teams will be awarded cash prizes to be used toward the purchase of school materials or field trips.

Preliminary planning is already underway for next year's NEGW. Plan to volunteer for one of the activities, get your kids involved, or just come out and be a part of Visions of Things to Come.

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