February 6, 2002
DESPITE
TOUGH TIMES, YOUNG STUDENTS IN
ENGINEERING
COMPETITION EXPECT A BETTER FUTURE FOR AMERICA'S CITIES
Devastating
events of the past few months and long-term problems such as global
warming seem to have done little to dampen hopes for the future
among seventh- and eighth-graders in the National Engineers
Week Future City Competition™. Indeed, their futuristic
concepts reflect a surefooted optimism that cities will be safer,
cleaner, and all-around better places to live.
More than 30,000 middle school students
from 950 schools across the country participated in the not-for-profit
competition. Now, first place teams from 27 regional competitions
held in January are going on all-expense-paid trips to Washington,
D.C. to vie in national finals, hosted by Bentley Systems, Incorporated,
the engineering software company, during National Engineers Week
from 8:30 AM to 12 noon at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill on Tuesday
and Wednesday, February 19 and 20. First prize is a trip to U.S.
Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. National Engineers Week, February
17-23, 2002, is co-chaired this year by the American Society of
Civil Engineers and DuPont.
Students begin at the start of the
school year and complete the computer portion using SimCity 3000TM
software, donated by Maxis, based in Walnut Creek, California.
At regional competitions, students present their computer model,
3-D scale model, a 300- to 500-word essay about an urban problem
-- this year's theme is research, exploration, generation, and
conservation of energy -- and a 100- to 200-word abstract on their
city and its services.
(more)
The city designs going to Washington
evidence broad expectations for a brighter future, with such advancements
as non-polluting energy sources, colonization of space and universal
access for the handicapped. Still, these virtual cities are securely
grounded in reality, with students battling crime, unemployment,
pollution, traffic jams and a host of other problems, all with
a balanced budget. Despite dealing with these seemingly intractable
social dilemmas, however, regional finalists say they have faith
in a better tomorrow.
"Cities will be more efficient
and safer," predicts Kristine Carter, a 13-year-old from
Pine Middle School in Reno, representing Northern Nevada at national
finals. "New technology will make it safer," she adds,
"and I don't think there will be as much terrorism."
The attacks of September 11 influenced
several designs, but it appears students proceeded undaunted.
"Some students talked about fireproofing and buildings withstanding
impacts," says Erik Mateljan, a teacher whose team from Jefferson
Middle School in Oceanside will represent the southern California
region, but worries of terrorism "didn't hold them back."
Wendy Fenner, P.E., who serves as
Future City coordinator for the Las Vegas region, notes that recent
events appeared to be on the minds of several schools in her area.
"Kids call and ask if they could focus on anti-terrorism,"
she says. "I said, 'Of course.'"
Ryan Jeppsen, an eighth-grader from
Rogich Middle School, the Las Vegas representative at national
finals, predicts that even though the future will bring "extremely
tall buildings," they will be equipped with "missiles
in turrets" to deter attacks.
Begun in 1992 by the engineering
community as a way to increase engineering awareness among young
people, Future City has rapidly become one of the most successful
educational programs of its kind. Student teams working with a
teacher and volunteer engineer mentor from the community fabricate
a metropolis from the ground up, solving intricate problems of
math, science and technology along the way. The National Engineers
Week Committee, a consortium of more than 100 engineering societies
and corporations, sponsors the competition to offer fun, hands-on
experiences in engineering and entice middle school students to
take more math and science courses.
"Future City taps the best
in every child and it taps the best in communities as it brings
together schools, parents, volunteer engineers and others for
a positive and powerful learning experience," says National
Director Carol Rieg. "Meanwhile, students see that engineering
has something to offer them, and, more importantly, they see what
they have to offer engineering."
At the national competition, each
team will defend its design before a panel of judges -- engineers,
city planners, a former astronaut, and others -- who pepper students
with questions on everything from city infrastructure to where
they would want to live in their future city, and why. And the
answers will almost invariably be positive.
"Sun City is a safe, clean
city with an excellent transportation system, fun attractions
and high paying jobs," write the students from St. John Neumann
Catholic School in Miami about the city representing Florida at
national finals. "This sunny city is lush with trees, landscapes,
and beautiful waterfront views for everyone to enjoy."
But even optimism at its sunniest
is tempered by inescapable real world problems. Population growth
will make for denser cities and less open space, say many of the
children. "I'm not sure if the future's going to be better
or worse," wonders Aric Austermann, whose school, Powder
Mill Middle School in Southwick, Massachussetts, will represent
his state at nationals for the second year in a row. "Cities
could be so industrialized and crowded that it will be difficult
to get through town or so advanced that you can travel at the
push of a button."
Yet, overall, students express confidence
in the promise of the future. Bevy Burgess, a student from Lawton
Christian School, Oklahoma's representative at nationals, looks
forward to the day that real cities will be like the one she and
classmates designed for Future City. "We're going to have
things for the handicapped that will regenerate nerves and artificial
limbs that you can attach to nerves," she says. "It
could be for real."
# # #
- The winning team (three students, teacher, and engineer mentor) from each qualifying regional Future City Competition receives an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the national finals. First place national team wins a trip to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, provided by national finals host Bentley Systems, Incorporated, a leading engineering software company. Student team members receive a laptop computer; teacher and engineer receive a PDA, provided by DuPont. Second-place team receives a $2,000 scholarship for the school's technology program, sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. A $1,000 scholarship for the third-place team's school technology curriculum is provided by The National Society of Professional Engineers.
- First place teams from 27 regions are competing in the national finals: Albany (NY), Buffalo, Northern California, Southern California, Chicago, Colorado, South Florida, Hampton Roads (VA), Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Las Vegas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York City, Northern Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Omaha, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Texas-Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas-Houston, and Washington, D.C.
- Special awards include Best Use of Ceramics, Best Use of Biotechnology Materials and Processes, Best Design for a Sustainable Community, Best Name for a Community, Most Innovative Design of Infrastructure Systems, Best Indoor Environment, Best Futuristic City, Best Energy Efficient City, Best Use of Engineered Materials, Most Innovative Use of Science and Technology, Best Communications System, Protecting Public Health and Safety through Competent and Ethical Engineering Practices, Most Innovative Power Generation System, Best Manufacturing Zone, Best Transportation System, Best Use of Automation and Control in City Systems and Services, Excellence in Systems Integration, and Best Residential Zone.
- Judges
at the Future City Competition national finals are:
- Mary Cleave, Ph.D., P.E., Deputy Associate Administrator, NASA and former astronaut
- Daniel D. Clinton, Jr., P.E., President, National Society of Professional Engineers
- Henry J. "Hank" Hatch, LTG, US Army (Ret), P.E., American Society of Civil Engineers
- Charles O. Holliday, Jr., Chairman and CEO, DuPont
- Catherine Matthews, Director, Upcounty Services Center, Montgomery County, MD
- Maxis, best known for its "Sim" family, develops and publishes top-quality entertainment software that uses advanced simulation technologies to deliver challenging fun through creativity, exploration, and depth of play. To date, players around the world have purchased more than eight million copies in the Sim line including SimCityClassicTM, SimCity 2000TM, SimCity 3000TM, SimAntTM, and SimFarmTM. Maxis is based in Walnut Creek, California, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS). Maxis, SimCity 2000, SimCityClassic, SimCity 3000, SimAnt, and SimFarm are trademarks of Electronic Arts. For additional information on Maxis, contact Patrick Buechner at 925-927-3782 or visit www.maxis.com.
- Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Engineers Week is celebrated annually by thousands of engineers, engineering students, teachers and leaders in government and business. The National Engineers Week consortium now includes more than 100 engineering, scientific and education societies, and major corporations dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of technology and the engineering profession. Visit National Engineers Week at www.eweek.org and the Future City Competition at www.futurecity.org
