FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a multinational non-profit organization that sponsors this competiton, which is considered the "little league" of the FIRST Robotics Competition. FIRST and the LEGO Company partner to run this program for children 9-14. Using LEGO bricks, participants build a robot and compete in events according to age groups.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a multinational non-profit organization that sponsors this competition, which teams professional and high school students to solve engineering problems. Get a hands-on, inside look at the engineering profession by designing, assembling and testing a robot.
"The mission of the National Engineers Week Future City Competition is to provide a fun and exciting educational engineering program for seventh- and eighth-grade students that combines a stimulating engineering challenge with a 'hands-on' application to present their vision of a city of the future." A team of students work with a teacher and an engineer mentor to produce a computer model, a physical model with recycled materials, an essay, and a verbal presentation.
Held annually in May, students from more than 40 nations compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prize: a $50,000 college scholarship.
INVENT AMERICA! is a nonprofit K-8 education program, launched in 1987, that helps children develop creative thinking and problem solving skills through a fun, unique and proven learning tool-- inventing! INVENT AMERICA! gives teachers special tools to help them encourage these critical skills in kids, to prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century.
"The National Engineering Design Challenge (NEDC) is an exciting high school level engineering-based program in which teams of students design, build, and demonstrate a working model of a new product. NEDC challenges students to apply mathematics, science, and technology."
The Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair is sponsored by The University of Tennessee to develop an outlet for creative energy and analytical skills in our youth. Students in our Senior Division (grades 9-12) compete for two opportunities to represent the SASEF at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Senior team projects also compete for an opportunity to attend ISEF. Students in the Junior Division (grades 6-8) compete separately for their own awards. The younger students learn a great deal by being involved in the competition each year. Through their experience with the fair, they gain insight that will prove useful in future endeavors.
"JETS, the Junior Engineering Technical Society, has a mission to guide high school students towards their college and career goals. JETS provides activities, events, competitions, programs, and material to educate students about the engineering world. Students learn how to apply high school mathematics and science to real life. "
The Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program challenges students to use creativity and imagination along with science, technology, and mechanical ability to invent or modify a tool. This competition began in 1996.
West Point Bridge Design Contest provides middle school and high school students with a realistic, engaging introduction to engineering. They provide this contest as a service to education--and as a tribute to the Academy's two hundred years of service to the United States of America.
This six-week, residential summer program is open to international students with futures in science and engineering. Students (grades 10-12) earn 2 high school credits which are transferable to their State/Province. Gifted youth work as full members of the research team and are involved in the collection and analysis of data. Students must generate a Scientific Report and deliver an oral presentation of the findings of their study to successfully complete the program.
Legoland is a fantastic themepark, located in California just north of San Diego. It is not nearly as crowded as Disneyland, and has great rides, shows, and fun activities. The rides include the Dragon Coaster (a mild roller coaster), the TechniCoaster (a fast roller coaster with a big drop and fun turns), and the AquaZone Waveracer (where you might get wet). There is also a great play structure. Children will also have a chance to build, program and control their own robots after creating them from scratch.
The mission of the Science and Engineering Fair is to motivate students. This is accomplished in cooperation with the schools, by providing a venue for demonstration of student research, interaction with a judging science or engineering professional, and by the competition for ribbons, certificates, cash awards, and trips. The Fair and the process to create a project to exhibit build on classroom instruction, encouraging the students to investigate and learn at a higher level. The top few at each fair receive an expenses-paid trip to represent Memphis and Shelby County at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where prizes include full college scholarships, cash awards worth thousands of dollars, and world- wide trips.
This organization has several educational programs for precollege and undergraduate students. Some of the opportunities available include shadowing an employee, being a student research intern or being a student apprentice (must be a Tri-Cities student for many of the programs). Professional development workshops are available for teachers.
Advancing Hispanics/Chicanos & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is a society of scientists dedicated to fostering the success of Hispanic/Chicano and Native American scientists—from college students to professionals—in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership. With a 36-year history, SACNAS is comprised of over 20,000 members, partners, and affiliates from a diversity of disciplines, institutions, ethnic backgrounds, and levels along the educational trajectory. SACNAS members are dedicated to giving back through mentorship, peer networks, and professional development, and to engaging in science research and leadership of the highest caliber.
This non-profit provides programs, places, content and other experiences related to invention. There is information on how to get a patent for an invention, resources related to patents and inventions, the National Inventors Hall of Fame and information on programs such as Camp Invention.
Project ACHIEVE's goal is to develop a model precollege program with a focus on mathematics for gifted minority students and to create a cadre of highly motivated minority students who are well prepared for college and university education, especially in engineering, business, and liberal arts.
Beginning in 1982 and funded for many years by the National Science Foundation, this directory is the only comprehensive catalog of science, mathematics, and engineering enrichment programs for students and teachers. In 1998, Intel provided funding to update and improve this resource. The training programs listed cover a wide variety of scientific disciplines that take place throughout the year at a variety of institutions—predominately at colleges and universities.
The mission of the Society for Science & the Public (SSP) is to advance public understanding and appreciation of science. A non-profit based in Washington, D.C., SSP encourages students, parents, teachers, and communities to explore the vast world of science. Through publications, programs, science fairs and scholarship competitions, SSP helps young people utilize and strengthen their knowledge of science, math, and engineering.
The American Society for Engineering Education is a nonprofit member association dedicated to promoting and improving engineering and technology education. ASEE is more than 12,000 deans, professors, instructors, students and industry representatives.
"The FAME/UNITE/MERIT Program is designed to increase the effective participation of African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American youth in engineering and other science professions. In addition, the program provides accelerated academic enrichment instruction in mathematics, science, computer academic setting resembling a college engineering curriculum. The program also provides professional/personal development workshops, assistance in college selection and information on the engineering profession."
During the 25 years he spent building the monument that defines the city of Florence, Filippo Brunelleschi lost his bed in a freak flood and accidentally sank 100 tons of fine, white marble in a riverboat of his own design. Author Ross King deftly lays a score of these high Renaissance adventures into the brickwork of the rising dome.
This book is about several electronic components, their functions and how to use them. This book includes information on resistors, capacitors, gates, transistors, switches, and more. There are formulas, codes, and schematics explaining the subject.
Written by Forrest Mims, this book offers a practical, no-nonsense collection of proven circuit designs useful for engineers, students, scientists, and hobbyists.
Author Henry Petroski conveys the pleasures and processes of engineering. Using real world examples from the invention of the paper clip and zippers to aircraft and skyscrapers, he explains "how engineers get from thought to thing." Petroski shares his perspective on how environment, politics, economics, and culture in addition to design and engineering affect the way things look and work. Anyone interested in the evolution of a product from the invention, to design, development, production and construction will find this book fascinating.
This book is about paper airplanes with five airplane plans, directions and many pre-printed pages to make the planes. The directions are similar to Origami. Some planes do need scissors. The authors also wrote the Kid's Paper Airplane Book, and The World Record Paper Airplane Book.
A major revision of the bestselling "bible" of amateur robotics building--packed with the latest in servo motor technology, micro controlled robots, remote control, Lego Mindstorms Kits, and other commercial kits. This book gives electronics hobbyists fully illustrated plans for 11 complete Robots, as well as all-new coverage of Robotix-based Robots, Lego Technic-based Robots, Functionoids with Lego Mindstorms, and Location and Motorized Systems with Servo Motors.
This book is an excellent resource for someone who wants to become a pilot or for people who want to improve their piloting skills. It tells how to execute a number of maneuvers (which are not aerobatic). Also includes helpful diagrams that explain concepts such as lift, glide, climb, straight and level flight and the turn.
This book emphasizes the methods used by circuit designers: a combination of basic laws, rules of thumb and a large bag of tricks. The editors have responded to the rapid changes in electronics and offer many new tables as well as new and revised topics.
This book describes and has many photos of most civil aircraft built in the world from the 1920's to the present day.
For ages 9-12, this book boasts a richly illustrated 80-page section that wrenches us all (including the wooly mammoth who ambles along with the reader) into the digital age of modems, digital cameras, compact discs, bits and bytes. Readers can glory in gears in "The Mechanics of Movement," investigate flying in "Harnessing the Elements," demystify the sound of music in "Working with Waves," marvel at magnetism in "Electricity & Automation," and examine e-mail in "The Digital Domain."
This book has a variety of cross-sections, showing the inner and outer workings of the machines. The double-page full-color drawings in this encyclopedic volume will have engineering buffs poring over the detailed cross sections of the machinery. There are chapters on cars, trains, building vehicles, tanks, rescue vehicles, record breakers, ships, planes, jets, and space vehicles and instruments. Within each chapter, a double-page spread is devoted to a cross section of one type of machine.
"The Web provides a global electronic platform that will help us showcase mechanical engineering's leading role in technological advancements. Along with selected feature stories from our print version, we plan to provide updated late-breaking technical and industry-related business news every week, filled with important links." (John G. Falcioni: Editor-in-Chief)
Each issue has: an in-depth look at a scientific topic (for example, earthquakes or robots), many do-it-at-home projects, science news, profiles of scientists, environmental updates, and new technology. Makes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics exciting for kids ages 8 to 14. Features many female scientists and clearly promotes math and science for young women.
The Summer Academy program is sponsored by the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP) and the Florida State University (FSU) College of Education. The summer academy will provide 20 select 10th - 12th grade students with the opportunity to participate in a week-long (July 11 - 16) residential academy on the campus of FSU. The program is offered at no cost and will focus on engineering, aero-science and mathematics.
This program is designed to offer academically talented minority students an opportunity to examine first-hand the activities and thought patterns characteristic of engineers.
The Science and Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP) for high school students places academically talented apprentices with interest and ability in science and mathematics in Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories for eight continuous weeks during the summer. These students work with scientists and engineers who act as mentors. The program offers students a unique and positive experience in their fields of interest, thus encouraging them to pursue careers in science and engineering.
This distance learning program features hands-on, self-paced correspondence courses including electronic kits that teach specific electronics subjects through associate's and Bachelor degree levels in electronics technology and engineering.
SCI-Arc is a center of innovation and one of the nation's few independent architecture schools, offering undergraduate and graduate programs. The school is dedicated to educating architects who will imagine and shape the future.
Designed for students in grades 7 through 12 specializing in science, mathematics, engineering and design, this open enrollment public charter school offers seven areas of specialization, ranging from Architecture to Computer Science to Aeronautics and more.
GAMES is an accelerated prorgram for juniors and seniors on the Middle Georgia College campus in Cochran, Georgia. The program gives students the opportunity to spend their last two years of high school at Middle Georgia College, during which they will earn their high school diploma AND their Associate Degree in fields of math or science. Rising high school juniors and seniors are elgible for the program as long as they meet the stringent admission criteria.
This small charter school is designed to offer a new and innovative opportunity for students. The goal is to become a premier public high school for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Colorado and the nation.
Founded by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, this school is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in science, mathematics, technology, or engineering.
A 3-week summer college-like residential experience that emphasizes leadership and development and project oriented instruction in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) areas and the humanities for high achieving students from the Cape Cod Collaborative member districts.
Students will do apprentice work with industry- or university-based mathematics, science, and engineering (MSE) professionals and participate in "hands-on" research. They will live on a college campus, participate in enrichment activities and meet other NASA SHARP apprentices from diverse backgrounds. NASA SHARP aims to establish individual working relationships between students and active researchers in aerospace-related fields, and to strengthen the nation's and the government's efforts to recruit and sustain underrepresented students in science and engineering fields. The Program offers aerospace-focused researchers and other science and engineering professionals the opportunity to serve as mentors to such students (16 years of age or older) who are rising eleventh and twelfth graders with interest and potential in science and engineering.
Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education, the Research Science Institute (RSI) summer program involves focused content on advanced theory and research in mathematics, the sciences and engineering. RSI is open to students who have completed the third year of high school or the equivalent. Refer to this informative web page for application deadline details.
"The Explorations in Engineering Workshop allows high school sophomore/junior minority and/or economically disadvantaged men and women who are academically talented in mathematics and/or science the opportunity to investigate careers in engineering and science.
This one week day camp will allow you to develop your creativity as well as provide you with the opportunity to meet and speak with working engineers who will allow you to see for yourself that engineers are innovative designers and problem solvers for society. Forty student participants will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Explorations in careers and knowledge for pre-college students cover such programs as Summer Youth Explorations, Women in Engineering, American Indian Workshop or Explorations in Engineering.
Exploring Engineering Through Robotics will provide gifted students the opportunity to be introduced to the fundamentals of engineering and immersed in a robotics experience that will serve as an exciting vehicle for the delivery of those fundamentals. The focus will be on robotics, introducing students to the various engineering disciplines and teach them engineering fundamentals. The Ohio Department of Education requires that participants must be Ohio Residents and must currently be in the 9th or 10th grade in an Ohio school district.
STEPS (Summer Technology Engineering Preview Summer camp for girls) is a one-week residential summer program for girls entering the 10th or 11th grade. STEPS was developed by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) in 1997 to encourage young women to consider engineering and manufacturing as a career. UDM camp’s main sponsor is Ford Motor Company, with additional support from Visteon and Daimler Chrysler.
The Women in Engineering Workshop (WIE) allows high school freshman/sophomore/junior women who are academically talented in mathematics and/or science the opportunity to investigate careers in engineering and science. Practicing women engineers from industry and the government, educators, and university faculty lead informational sessions and discussions. Each session includes a laboratory experience, a team engineering project, and time to interact formally and informally with role models and talented peers.
The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP) is a four-week residential program for exceptional young women with strong interests in science, engineering and medicine. Each July, select high school students from across the country and abroad come to Smith College to do hands-on research with Smith faculty in the life and physical sciences and in engineering.
"A month at Smith will give you an exceptional opportunity to "do" science and engineering, will enhance your skills, boost your confidence, and connect you with professionals who will support your efforts. You also will make great new friends from all over the world."
The University of Vermont's College of Engineering and The Governor's Institutes of Vermont host an annual UVM/GIV Engineering - Summer Institute. Students will explore career opportunities in aerospace, biomedical, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.
In Super Solvers Gizmos & Gadgets, Morty Maxwell, better known as the Master of Mischief, has taken over the Shady Glen Technolgy Center. Only you can stop the Master of Mischief. Build 15 different vehicles -five automotive, five aircraft, and fiver alternative energy-and use them to race against Morty. To build a faster vehicle, you'll have to collect the parts you need by mastering physical science puzzles and dodging Morty's sneaky Cyber Chimps.
For the past 28 years, Clemson University has offered a summer enrichment program for gifted middle and high school students. In addition to challenging courses, students are provided with opportunities for fun, friendship and a Clemson experience. This enrichment program is for rising seventh through 12th grade students.
"The Minority Introduction to Engineering (MITE) program is a free, one week summer program. It is designed for minority high school students between their junior and senior year who are interested in the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) and engineering. During MITE week, participants spend their days in classes performing engineering projects. Students rise early in the morning, exercise, and gain first hand experience on what it takes to be a cadet at the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA). All of this enables students to make an informed decision about applying to USCGA."
The Governor’s School for Emerging Technologies is designed to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through study of current topics in biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, and other emerging technologies. The school capitalizes on partnerships with a unique array of high technology research and development organizations located across the State of Tennessee to provide students with the opportunity to learn from leading researchers and experience cutting-edge research facilities through weekly field trips.
The Governor’s School for Engineering will introduce students to a wide variety of engineering disciplines and provide the opportunity to learn and apply problem-solving methods that are common to all engineering disciplines. It will focus on engineering design through hands-on projects that integrate applied mathematics, science and computer tools. In addition, students will receive an in-depth introduction to the field of biomedical engineering, with a study of human physiology including examples of how engineering problem solving, analytical, and computational models produce solutions to biomedical problems.
The University of Idaho College of Engineering sponsors the annual Idaho Junior Engineering, Mathematics, and Science (JEMS) Summer Workshop for students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school. The focus of the workshop is to expose students to engineering problems within technical and social contexts, and to encourage them to enroll in college. Students will participate in lab exercises, field trips, computer exercises, and recreational activities.
This mixed media electronic project kit helps kids learn the basics of electricity and electronics. Contains a control panel with LED digital display, photoelectric cell and light emitting diodes.
This building set focuses on a 3-D rolling ball machine. You can purchase the Chaos Tower, and build a 6-ft tall maze for a ball to climb down. Accessory kits offer extra ball traps, joint connectors, trampolines, and loop-de-loops to enhance your maze. Additionally, the building set includes CD-ROM and videos with a 3rd- through 12th-grade physics curriculum.
This modeling and drawing software brings the world of expensive, high-powered computer aided design to children in a format that is both inexpensive and easy to master. Children with a 2nd grade reading level can master the program while high schoolers are captivated by the advanced features.
"Edmund Scientific's" is a catalog for science and engineering enthusiasts. It contains materials for every age, from kits, scientific toys, games, and puzzles, to high-quality telescopes, microscopes and miscellaneous lab equipment. Items are available to order online as well.
This building system allows you to build a shape that can unfold and transform into a different, expanded shape by pressing any set of Magic Points. It is a 3-dimensional approach to geometry of solids.
This building system offers exceptional play value through building and bringing models to life. It inspires creativity, builds self-confidence and encourages interaction among children and parents. The possibilities are endless! K'NEX is the number one construction toy company in the non-brick category and getting bigger every day!
Mathematica is a tool that performs simple calculator operations, large-scale programming and interactive document preparation. It is used in scientific research, engineering analysis and modeling, technical education from high school to graduate school, and anywhere else quantitative methods are used.
Mike's Lego CAD allows you to make, edit, and save your own computer Lego creations. Print and share the instructions for models you made, and you can use as many pieces as you want to create complex lego creations.
A NerdKit is a combination of electronic parts and wisdom, which together will teach you about digital electronics, embedded systems, and how to bridge computers with the "real world". A NerdKit's microcontroller kit is appropriate for hobbyists, and has educational material to allow even middle-schoolers and high-schoolers (ages 12+) looking for a fun challenge to learn by doing, especially with the help of a techie parent! A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip, including processing, memory, and inputs and outputs.
This building system lets imaginative builders use interchangeable parts to create working robots. Parts are plastic and most kits can be used to make more than one robot.
Design Squad Nation (DSN) wants students to Build Big. Choose an activity from the DSN website, form a team, and build your own super-big version. Then take a video of your working design and upload it to YouTube. Someone over the age 18 must be team leader and submit the project - ask a teacher, a parent, a guardian, a grandparent, or a friend to get involved.
This site was designed for women and girls to bring attention to engineering opportunities. Features include Why be an Engineer, Fun Facts, Ask an Engineer, Great Achievements, Cool Links, a Gallery of women engineers and Career and Education info.
Junkyard Wars is a television series where two four-person teams convene at a junkyard and are given a task, e.g., "Build a vehicle that will carry all four team members around our course, but (sorry!) we're all out of wheels!" We follow them as they design the machine, scavenge junk parts to build it, run into problems and adjust the design, etc. Along the way the mechanical/electrical principles they are using are sketched onscreen as well as the explanation of any problems that occur.
This site is devoted to Lego 3D Cad and has links to programs that allow you to make, edit, and render 3D Lego models. LDraw.org also has links to the latest 3D Lego parts, and a reference section containing many articles on Lego 3D CAD.
This site includes information about Legos from designs to information about locating missing pieces. It also provides information on LEGO gatherings, clubs and other people's creations.
'The Iron Seed' lets you build the first railroad in the U.S.--the Baltimore and Ohio. 'Excess on the Orient Express' challenges you to negotiate obstacles, both geographic and political, to connect Paris to Istanbul. 'Cape to Cairo' lets you build through the steamy jungles of Africa and attempt what no one has accomplished in 200 years--a trans-African railroad.
Return of The Incredible Machine allows players to use unique, sometimes humorous mechanical components to construct fantastic machines that accomplish unusual tasks. Each puzzle contains a partially built machine and the extra pieces needed to complete it and accomplish the goal. The player's job is to use the pieces in the correct way to complete the machine. As players become more familiar with the various machine parts and their functions, the puzzles become more sophisticated and challenging. This third installment of the Incredible Machine series from Sierra features improved graphics and new puzzles to challenge virtual engineers of all ages.
Rocketry Online features the most current information about model, high power and amateur rocketry. It also has information about rocketry-related school and university programs and other rocketry and space-related websites.
This site allows users to construct creatures and see how they move under different strengths of gravity and other conditions. It shows the interrelationship of several variables in a system.
This website explores the funnier side of our inventive spirit by featuring actual USA patented products.
This website provides information on interesting tours and sites around the United States involving engineering. Do you realize that everything around you that makes your life easier and more fun, nearly everything that make our economy go, has been created by an engineer? So when you take a trip - either around your neck of the woods or around the country - you'll find countless sights that help tell the engineering story. The sights listed here are certainly not the only ones, but they're a sampling of activities creative marvels, and thrills that will help get you started. Take a look: Engineers turn ideas into reality!
This article is mainly for teenagers, but much of the information will also be useful for adults contemplating a career in architecture. The advice comes from Dr. Lee Waldrep, an Architectural Education Consultant, and from a number of other architects who offer advice in our About Architecture discussion forum.
A website created to help new college students find in-depth and unbiased information about picking the right Civil Engineering degree to fit their needs. The website provides information about various schools, and aims to help new students find the best program based on their interests.
Discover Engineering is a website that seeks to inform about what engineering is and what engineers do. If you surf your way through this site, you'll know way more about engineers and engineering than most adults. You might even decide that you want to become an engineer. A really broad but short definition of engineering is: "Engineering is the application of math and science to create something of value from our natural resources."
eGFI seeks to identify and gather in one place the most effective engineering education resources available to the K-12 community. From comprehensive data on outreach programs to profiles of “cool” engineers to hundreds of links and readings related to engineering education, eGFI offers useful, easily accessible materials specifically tailored to students’ and educators’ interests.
This website celebrates American imagination and industry. What better way to appreciate those qualities than to visit and tour America at work. The information on this site is maintained by many people throughout the United States who enjoy visiting American industry. Simply click on a state and see what factory tours are available!
Elementary school children will learn some fun and interesting things about OPTICS on this website. Optics is the science of light, and one of the most important fields of physics. Interactive activities, downloadable word searches, and web and book resources are all a part of this informative site recommended by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
This site discusses some of the principles involved in designing roller coasters.
The ROVer Ranch is a place to learn about robotic engineering. You can learn about the development of robots, their elements and systems, and use a 3D VRML simulation to build and run your own robot.
This site offers links to various solar car projects at college and universities throughout the U.S. and the world.
STEMtube is a website where students can post their science, technology, engineering, and math photos and video links to share with each other. It can help students develop projects and expand on their ideas.
This website is offered as a service to students. It lists numerous science, mathematics, and engineering enrichment programs offered throughout the country, with a focus on programs for high school students (though many programs are for younger grades/ages).
This site was developed to facilitate the exchange of ideas among researchers by concentrating links to nanotube sites. One benefit is to provide easier electronic access to bibliographical information and preprints.
If you're after knowledge and know-how, this website offers pioneer aviation history, hands-on aviation adventures, virtual expeditions and timely information. There are six operational Wright aircraft in the virtual hangar. Check out the complete engineering drawing of the 1902 Wright Glider and links to other informational sites related to aviation and the Wright Brothers.
A PongSat is an experiment that fits inside of a ping pong ball. These ping pong ball 'satellites' are flown to the edge of space by balloon or launched in sounding rockets. The PongSats are then returned to the student. It's an easy and inexpensive way to get students excited about science and engineering.