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.
"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. "
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.
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.
Founded in 1921, the mission of the Society for Science & the Public is to advance public understanding and appreciation of science. A non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., SSP has encouraged students, parents, teachers, and communities to explore the vast world of science. Through publications and 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."
Henry Petroski conveys the pleasures and process 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 affects 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.
Pocket Flyers is a paper airplane book that has 5 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 practical, no-nonsense collection of proven circuit designs useful for engineers, students, scientists, and hobbyists.
This book by author David Macaulay boasts a richly illustrated 80-page section that wrenches us all (including the curious, bumbling wooly mammoth who ambles along with the reader) into the digital age of modems, digital cameras, compact disks, 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." An illustrated survey of significant inventions closes the book, along with a glossary of technical terms, and an index.
This book has a variety of cross-sections including; cross-sections of planes, cars and trains. The cross-sections show the inner and outer workings of the machines shown. Both technical and beautiful, the double-page full-color drawings in this huge and handsome encyclopedic volume will have engineering buffs poring over the detailed cross sections of the machinery. There are separate chapters on cars, trains, building vehicles, tanks, rescue vehicles, record breakers, ships, planes, jets, and space vehicles and instruments. Within each chapter, each double-page spread is devoted to a carefully labeled cross section of just 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 32 page full-color 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. Each issue is packed with information.
The Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at State University of New York (SUNY) College at Old Westbury is a Saturday program for students in grades 5-10. Students study creative problem solving in mathematics, science and engineering. There are 75 spaces available annually, and you may participate only once. Each student will be expected to spend 60 hours in class during 20 Saturday mornings and 60 hours in related outside projects.
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 that include electronic kits that teach specific electronics subjects through associate's degree and Bachelor degree levels in electronics technology and engineering. For many courses prior knowledge in the field of electronics is recommended.
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.
Founded by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, this school is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in science, mathematics, technology, or engineering.
"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."
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.
Sponsered by the Center for Excellence in Education, the 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.
Practicing minority 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 workshop is a weeklong investigation of engineering careers in areas such as mechanical, environmental, electrical, chemical, civil, geological, and metallurgical engineering, as well as other related disciplines such as mathematics, engineering technology, technical writing, and computer 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.
This award-winning program provides laboratory research experiences in the sciences, engineering, computer science, social sciences, or mathematics with nationally known scientists at three major research universities, Saint Louis University, Washington University, and University of Missouri-St. Louis, including two medical schools and an optometry school.
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.
"This course will provide the gifted student the opportunity to be both introduced to the fundamentals of engineering and immersed in a robotics experience that will serve as an exciting, popular vehicle for the delivery of those fundamentals. While the focus will be on robotics, the course will introduce the student to the various engineering disciplines and teach him or her some engineering fundamentals."
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.
"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 have an annual UVM/GIV Engineering- Summer Institute. Students will explore career opportunities in aerospace, biomedical, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.
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.
'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.
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 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. This kit has a control panel with LED digital display, photoelectric cell, light emitting diodes, and more.
This building set by K'Nexis more than 5 feet tall, and the energy will amaze you. Balls dart different ways through chutes, wheels, drops and more. Add the *K'NEX Motor Pack (sold seperately) to motorize your creations. You'll enjoy this building challenge. Item
builds 4 models: Big Ball Factory, Super Ferris Wheel, Swing Ride, and Heliport.
This building system takes principles of physics, mechanics, and engineering and packages them in easy-to-use capsules. Each capsule performs a different function - some contain motors, gears, switches, batteries or lights. Special pieces attach to the capsules including chain drives, pulleys, wheels, propellers, or pontoons (to make your creation float).
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 extremely inexpensive and exceptionally easy to master. Children with a 2nd grade reading level can easily master the program while high schoolers are equally captivated by the advanced features that are provided.
"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 new, different, expanded shape by pressing any set of Magic Points. It is a good, fun 3-dimensional approach to geometry of solids. The Advanced kit allows you to build a cuboctahedron, the EXPERT kit has enough pieces to build an icosahedron (not truncated, though, for soccer fans).
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 to 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. The user can analyze data or solve a tricky differential equation or develop an entire solution, prototype, or application.
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 the best part: you can use as many pieces as you want! Create complex lego creations, and make anything you want.
This building system lets you build an infinite variety of life-like models or fantasy figures from just seven different geometric-shaped plastic panels. A construction set can produce load-bearing and space frame structures that have interior spaces and bracing for support.
This building system lets imaginative builders use interchangeable parts to create their own working robots. Parts are plastic and most kits can be used to make more than one robot. Some use remote controls. There is a robotic dog, a grapper arm, etc.
This building system is an award-winning science toy that both children and adults will like. There are magnetic rods and steel balls to discover design and evaluate the strength and sturdiness of different shapes. You can even make your own compass.
This website takes you on an educational quest, serving as a companion to the PBS series and making the story of the world's engineering wonders understandable for adults and for middle- and high-school students. Bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels take center stage on PBS with Building Big, a five-part miniseries on megastructures, hosted by renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay. Building Big explores the history behind some of the world's greatest feats of engineering and the ingenuity of the engineers, architects, and builders who designed and built them.
This building set by K'Nex is the radio-controlled Master of Robot World that you control! Control-A-Bot features fully directional radio-controlled movement, the ability to turn your voice into his robot voice, eyes and mouth that light up, 4 motors for ultimate control, and directions to build 6 enormous models.
This website was designed particularly for women and girls to bring attention to engineering opportunities. The website includes links on: Why be an Engineer, Fun Facts, Ask an Engineer, Great Achievements, Cool Links, a Gallery of women engineers, Career info, and Education info. Also, a fun article in the Career page on what engineering has to do with chocolate!!
This website is home to the popular television series where two four-person teams convene at a junkyard where they are given a task, e.g., "Build a vehicle that will carry all four team members around our course, only (sorry!) we're all out of wheels!" So each team designs a walking car in a 10-hour period. 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. Once the machines are built, they compete against each other to determine which team built the best machine.
This website allows remote users can control the speed, load and air/fuel ration of a three cylinder, 700cc, water-cooled 25 hp Briggs and Stratton gasoline engine to determine the effect on power and efficiency. The site was developed by students and faculty in Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University.
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 is devoted to making available the most up-to-date information about the hobbies of model, high power and amateur rocketry.
Whether you are looking for vendor's websites, individual's personal websites, organizational websites or rocketry club websites, you will find the latest information here.
Rocketry Online also has information about rocketry-related school and university programs as well as other rocketry and space-related websites.
Interested in rocketry publications? Rocketry Online features current information on rocketry-related books, available for purchase online, as well as rocketry magazines, E'zines, videos and even software written for rocketry applications.
This website allows users to construct their own creatures and see how they move under different strengths of gravity and under other varying conditions. It is very easy to jump into and get started with. Instructions are available. It shows the interrelationship of several variables in a system.
Do you think you've created some wacky inventions? This website features strange inventions with actual government patents. The site has been featured on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, ABC World News, and the Learning Channel.
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!
The ASEE EngineeringK12 Center 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, the ASEE EngineeringK12 Center offers immediately useful, easily accessible materials specifically tailored to students’ and educators’ interests. The ASEE EngineeringK12 Center hopes to serve as a resource hub for stakeholders in engineering education.
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.
This website was designed to improve the general awareness of corrosion causes and solutions. Corrosion is often perceived as a curse we have to endure helplessly and it is a shock to many to learn that there are many ways to prevent and control this natural force. The Corrosion Doctors' educational focus is centered on a series of Information Modules designed for training in corrosion science and engineering.
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."
This website offers biographies of some famous engineers with connections to Manchester School of Engineering.
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 website offers information that can be downloaded in book form (153 pages), or viewed on line. The book offers a simplified view of what design considerations and science a mechanical/civil design engineer must know when designing a rollercoaster. It is intended for the middle or high school teacher, however, profoundly gifted students with an interest in physics, math and/or rollercoasters may enjoy reading the book/website.
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 website from Stanford University offers links to various solar car projects at college and universities throughout the United States and the world.
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 website was developed to facilitate the exchange of ideas among researchers by concentrating links to sites dedicated to nanotubes. One of the benefits is to provide an easier (or better structured) electronic access to bibliographical information and preprints. Information about providers of nanotubes is intended to increase the production volume and find new applications for nanotubes.
If you're after knowledge and know-how, this website offers pioneer aviation history, hands-on aviation adventures, virtual expeditions, and timely information. If you want to go straight for the airplanes, they have six operational Wright aircraft in the virtual hangar. Check out the complete engineering drawing of the 1902 Wright Glider and a plethora of 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.