The Batten College of Engineering and Technology Celebrates Engineers week

February 19, 2018

Old Dominion University's Engineering Systems Building

By Keith Pierce

Events and competitions designed to bring engineering to life will be held Feb. 19-24 as Old Dominion University celebrates National Engineers Week.

From giant lawn games and exciting Formula and Baja car demonstrations, to student club showcases, lab tours and a girl's night out for middle and high schoolers, the Batten College of Engineering and Technology at ODU will host a variety of activities.

ODU students will have opportunities to play giant games of battleship, use their gladiator skills to knock opponents off pedestals or test how high they can jump and stick to a giant Velcro wall. Local middle and high school students will tour engineering labs or watch a special screening of the movie, "Dream Big," a heartfelt story of human ingenuity narrated by Jeff Bridges in partnership with the American Society of Civil Engineers that will be screened at the University Theatre.

Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, (NSPE) and organized nationally by DiscoverE (formerly the National Engineers Week Foundation), Engineers Week aims to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers, while recognizing the contributions engineers make to society and quality of life.

This is year's national theme is "Inspiring Wonder."

Engineers Week Calendar:

• Monday, Feb. 19 (12:00 to 1:30) Engineering Student Organization Showcase/Cookies and Cocoa with Deans and Department Chairs. Engineering student organizations will highlight their organization with posters in the hallways of the Engineering Systems Building (ESB) and Kaufman Hall. Organization members will be available to describe and answer questions about their organization's goals, objectives and activities. Guest can also meet deans, associate deans, assistant deans and department chairs who will hand out cookies and cocoa.
• Tuesday, Feb. 20 (11:30 to 2:30) Engineering Field Day: Games on the Kaufman Mall (Lawn). The Batten College of Engineering and Technology will host field games including a Velcro Wall, Pedestal Joust, and lawn games including life -size Battleship, Jenga, and corn hole. Student organizations may also build lawn games (checkers, faculty guess who, angry birds, etc.) to increase the fun!
• Wednesday, Feb. 21 (11:30 to 2:30) Clubs Spotlight: Association of Computing Machinery will host a "debug a pi" eating contest on the Engineering Lawn, Motorsports Club will have SAE Formula and Baja car demonstrations at Whitehurst and Phi Sigma Rho will host a Lip Sync Battle.
• Thursday, Feb. 22 SWE Diversity Panel (11:00 am to 1:00 pm) Girls Night Out (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm): SWE Diversity Panel discussions will focus on the cultural identity of women in engineering. Girls Night Out includes a pre-event engineer selfie contest via social media, meet and greets with female engineering role models followed by screening of the movie "Dream Big" at the University Theatre. A heartfelt story of human ingenuity narrated by Jeff Bridges in partnership with the American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Friday, Feb. 23 Laboratory Tours (9:00 am to 12:00 noon); Engineering Game Night (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm) Target Site Tour: Tours of engineering laboratories by high schools. Registration required. Engineering Game Night, Family Feud for Engineers. Sponsored by SWE and NSBE. Tour of the Target Distribution Center. Reservations required. Sponsored by SWE.
• Saturday, Feb. 24 (7:30 pm to 10 pm) Engineering Gala: A night of dining and dancing on the Spirit of Norfolk. Sponsored by SWE.

For more information, visit the ODU Engineers Week website.