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Future Engineers
Buildings Home > Future Engineers

PCA Recognizes Young Creative Minds

In conjunction with National Engineers Week, Chicago engineering societies hosted on January 26, 2008 a student design competition for area schools. The contest, known as the “Future City Competition”, required middle grade students with the assistance of an engineer mentor, to design a future city.

According to Bob Johnson, spokesman for the Chicago program, the competition is in the sixteenth year and is the only one of the 40 regional programs that has completed all years. Regional chairman Don Wittmer notes, “It is exciting to see the interaction between the students and witness the enthusiasm that these students have in learning about engineering and the real life problems that are encountered every day. Our hope is that this competition helps students consider the possibility of studying engineering when they attend college.”

Team from Franklin Middle School and their winning Project “Qubitersum”
A city of the future – “Qubitersum” -- designed by eighth grade students from Franklin Middle School, Wheaton, won the Chicago Regional National Engineers Week Future City Competition™. Qubitersum is the name for the new city established in the desert of Australia. Qubitersum has many great features. One of the greatest is that spray-on solar cells are used to power all of the city buildings. Within these spray-on solar cells are nanoscale spectrometers that are aware of when day changes to night and there is no more sunlight. When this happens the sensors tell the fuel cells to take over the process of keeping power running in the city. There is also a wonderful maglev transportation system.

Team from Keller Regional Gifted Center and their winning Project “Equilibria”
PCA provided a special award for the project which exhibited the “Best Use of Concrete in Building Technology”. This special award was won by the students from the Keller Regional Gifted Center for their project “Equilibria” which featured a two tiered city with towers above and a mass transportation center below. Each student received an individual plaque and a $50 US Savings Bond and the school received one large plaque for display. PCA commends all the students who participated for their effort and creative solutions.

Student Mariel Tader (age 14) said, “It was fun experience learning about the different branches of engineering”. “Future City is a great learning experience”, I wish I could do it every year," comments Karen Suarez (age 13).

 

 

Reaching for the Stars—Bringing Structural Concepts to Life

Larry Novak and sonStructural engineer Lawrence Novak (manager of building structures for PCA and SEAOI board member) and his son Alex Novak, age 10, presented structural engineering and “green” building design as part of the PACE (Parents and Community for Excellence) 2nd annual “Reach for the Stars!” event for Oswego, Ill., district 308 students held May 12, 2008. The program is a celebration of academically talented grade school students and the teachers who enable them to reach for the stars every day.

L.  Novak and studentsLawrence encouraged students to compare building structures with those found in nature. The presentation engaged the student audience with the fascinating possibilities for their future. Per Pam Nagel, the organizer of the event, “the juxtaposition of Mr. Novak’s worldwide travel experience and totally approachable style of presentation completely WOWed everyone in the audience. Even my "know-it-all," 8th grade son appreciated what he had to share with everyone. From interactive visual aids (the fossilized dinosaur egg and shark tooth were my personal favorites), to windmill analogies, his presentation truly brought structural concepts to life in a tangible way.”

150 students and parents attended the evening events which featured interactive displays and presentations that are fun and educational, designed to enhance children’s interest in math, science, and of course engineering.




 
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