Young students 'Discover Engineering' April 18
Lamar University is offering a free community event for young students to take a peak into the exciting world of engineering. The event will be held at the Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum on Saturday, April 18 from noon to 4 p.m.
The educational fair for girls and boys interested in science, math and engineering will feature the participation of local companies and student organizations, as well as dozens of self-paced, hands-on activities. Local companies participating in the event with displays and activities include ExxonMobil, Flint Hills Resources, BASF and Valero.
The event is brought about through the work of the Lamar University chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and the Student Engineering Council in LU’s College of Engineering. Door prizes, T-shirts and snacks will be provided.
The student organizations developed the ideas for hands-on activities that are fun to do but also give the students opportunity to think about the way things happen, said SWE chapter president Joanna Martin.
“We give them a project and a goal, then ask them to talk about why they did what they did,” Martin said. “We will ask them how they might make it better the next time. Our aim is to help the students to begin thinking differently, to explore a new type of thinking. We want them to think like engineers at a level they can grasp and to grow from that idea. “
Martin, who holds a bachelor’s degree in biology-chemistry from UT-Austin, is a senior chemical engineering major at Lamar. She will graduate with her second bachelor’s degree in May after completing co-op experiences at Westlake Chemical in Sulphur, and Flint Hills Resources in Port Arthur. She will begin her chemical engineering career at Chevron Phillips in Baytown after graduation.
The event will provide learning activities for elementary, middle school and high school students, Martin said. “We will also learn about things we see and use in daily life, how they are made and how they do the things they do,” she said.
Students and parents will have opportunity to talk with professional engineers and engineering students about the career field and the programs available at Lamar. “It is exciting to see parents really engaged with helping their child learn,” Martin said.
While the event is free and open to the students and their parents, registration is encouraged. To register to attend, visit www.lamar.edu/discoverengineering.
For more information, contact the Office of Outreach and Student Services, College of Engineering, at (409) 880-7871.
