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SEAONC Helps High Schoolers See Engineering As Positive Career Choice
SAN FRANCISCO-(Business Wire)-May 6, 2008 - What makes bridges fall down? Better yet, what makes bridges stand up? How tall is the tallest skyscraper? How safe will my home be in the next earthquake?
Through a new student-outreach program, the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) is exploring these important questions with some of the most inquiring minds around - high school students.
These efforts coincide with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent proposal to bring 20,000 new engineers into California's workforce over the next 10 years. "California needs more engineers to achieve the improvements to our roads, schools and other infrastructure that voters envisioned when they passed the Strategic Growth Plan bonds last year," said Governor Schwarzenegger in an earlier press release. "As my administration works to deliver these improvements better, faster and for less through 'Performance Based Infrastructure', we must also ensure that our colleges and universities can attract and graduate the best and brightest engineers to build the Golden State."
The goal of SEAONC's new High School Outreach Program is to share with students the excitement and challenges associated with the structural engineering profession, demonstrating that concepts from students' current math and science classes can be applied to create impressive buildings and bridges.
SEAONC's one-hour interactive presentation was developed by a dedicated group of young SEAONC members, who felt that their profession needed more exposure among students exploring career paths. Kristen Parrish, one of the program developers, explained, "We really wanted to open the eyes of high school students about structural engineering as a career path. In high school, students often hear about engineering as a career option, but they do not necessarily know that there are many different types of engineers, and therefore they rarely know which branch of engineering to pursue in college. We wanted to show students that applying math and science to structural engineering can be fun, so we developed a classroom activity to supplement a slideshow about the profession."
SEAONC volunteers have visited several Bay Area high schools already. Matthew Weil and Kristen Parrish brought the program to two classes at Leadership Public School in Hayward. "The teachers and students were all very excited to learn about something outside of their traditional classroom environment," said Matthew. "Everyone was very enthusiastic and seemed to enjoy the 'hands-on' application of some simple principles." Earthquake education in Hayward is especially timely as October 21, 2008 marks the 140th anniversary of the 1868 Hayward Earthquake, which is coincident with the historical average return period for major Hayward Fault earthquakes (from USGS http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1834).
Daniel Bastiao is teaching students about structural engineering at Immaculate Conception Academy, an all-girls high school in San Francisco. Daniel incorporated SEAONC's new presentation into a 10-week program called Engineering Alliance for the Arts. "I knew we were making a lasting impact," said Daniel, "when a student enthusiastically came up to me, after returning from a family road trip during spring break, to show me photos of bridges and to tell me that she had to explain to her parents what types of bridges they were passing under and why those bridges were designed that way."
Adrian Ku, another SEAONC volunteer with Engineers Alliance for the Arts, shared the presentation at John O'Connell High School of Technology in San Francisco. "We challenged the students to build the tallest tower possible - out of gumdrops and toothpicks - within 10 minutes!" said Adrian. "What I enjoyed most was hearing them talk about how important it was to have a plan before they build, communicate effectively during construction, and work together as a team. These are all issues that we (structural engineers) face on a daily basis."
SEAONC's outreach program aims to expose all students to the issues tackled by structural engineers, to encourage technically talented students to consider structural engineering as a profession, and to instruct students on the educational requirements for entering the field.
Structural Engineers design the buildings where we eat, sleep, work, play, and entertain. If there is a roof over your head right now, chances are that a structural engineer calculated its strength. Who makes bridges stand up? Engineers do.
Founded in 1930, SEAONC is committed to advancing the art and science of structural engineering. To bring this presentation to your school and/or for more information, please contact:
— To bring this presentation to your school: hsoutreach@seaonc.org
— About this article and SEAONC Young Members Forum: Karl Telleen ktelleen@ruthchek.com (www.seaonc.org/member/committees/young.asp)
— SEAONC: Peter Revelli prevelli@ruthchek.com (www.seaonc.org)
— EAA: Nick Bucci nick.bucci@tippingmar.com (www.eaabayarea.org)
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