Bridge-building contest to highlight National Engineers Week

For the past several years EFC Engineers and Architects has been visiting elementary, junior high, and high schools in the CNMI during the last week of February in the occasion of National Engineers Week.

The nation celebrates Engineers Week to honor the nation’s first engineer, George Washington, the United States’ first president.

The purpose of National Engineer’s Week is to increase the public’s awareness and appreciation of the engineering profession. Some 35,000 engineers throughout the U.S. will reach more than three million students and teachers. Their goal is to help bring practical applications of math, science, and engineering and technical studies in college.

This year, EFC Engineers and Architects is planning a different forum. A balsa wood bridge-building contest has been opened for all CNMI schools.

Four divisions are identified as Elementary 1 (grades 1-3), Elementary 2 (grades 4-6), Junior High (grades 7-8 or 9), High School (grades 9-12) for the contest.

Each school may have one entry in each division. EFC Engineers and Architects will provide the bridge-building kit and contest rules. The students are to construct their bridge to the required dimensions and bring their bridge to the Multi-Purpose Center on Feb. 26 for judging. Bridges will be judged on appearance, neatness, dimensions, and load bearing capacity.

In addition to the balsa wood bridge-building contest, EFC has contacted various government agencies and private firms to participate by providing an exhibit or hands-on display of the type of engineering they are involved with. For example, the Division of Environmental Quality has indicated that they will have an exhibit on environmental/sanitary engineering.

The venue for the contest and exhibit is the Multi-Purpose Center on Feb. 26, from 8am to 1pm. This exhibit is open to the public but in particular it is intended for all students in the CNMI.

Engineers are the world’s problem solvers: they are practical inventors who use science and technology to turn ideas into reality. That makes our lives easier, healthier, and more productive.

One hundred years ago, life was constant struggle against disease, pollution, deforestation and treacherous working conditions. Sending and receiving communication was slow and unreliable.

Because of engineering achievements, such as health technology, electrification and computers, the world has become a healthier, safer and more productive place to live.

Log on the http://www.greatachievements.org to learn more about the Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century. (PR)