Calgary Science Olympics – Volunteer Event Managers and Assistants

Additional event managers and assistant event managers are being recruited to help carry out the planned events. Approximately 400-500 students in grades 1-12 will participate in the hands-on science challenges. Members volunteering for these positions must be available on all of the following days.

Thursday, Jan. 7, 6-8 pm
Saturday, Feb 6, 9-11 am
Saturday, Feb 27, (Science Olympics Day) 8 am-1 pm or 12-4:30 pm, depending on the event you are assigned.

To volunteer, please contact Jeanne Keaschuk at jkeaschuk@apegga.org

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First Lego League Call for Judges

On Saturday, Jan. 23 the FLL will hold its regional competition at NAIT’s Main Campus in Edmonton. Hundreds of young students aged 9 to 14 will compete in the Transforming Transportation – Smart Move 2009 Challenge. Will their robotic inventions master new tasks? Will they transform the way we look at transportation?

You are needed to be part of this fun and exciting event. Openings are available for judges in several competition categories.

For more information and to sign up as a judge, click here.

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Environment Committee Tip of the Month
Guilt-Free Christmas

Which is the greenest Christmas tree: artificial or real? Artificial trees, which are gaining in popularity (and even come in “upside-down” ceiling-mounted models), are typically made in China from non-biodegradable plastics. Although they can last for years, they ultimately end up in landfills. Real trees are renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. To keep your carbon footprint to a minimum, look for trees that are grown organically and as close to home as possible.

Adding up all the carbon dioxide emitted in the manufacture of the fake tree and shipping it from China to the U.S. contributes only slightly more of the greenhouse gas than is absorbed in a year by the slowest growing trees. Fast-growing firs and pines suck up several times that amount of CO₂ so cutting them down is bad.

But that's not the whole story. Real trees can be turned to mulch and when continuously grown and harvested sequester even more CO₂ than a single tree living its full natural life in the wild. Plus, real trees are carbon neutral--cutting them down and disposing of them emits no more CO₂ than they absorbed while growing--unlike the artificial trees that rely on fossil plankton.

Ultimately, a potted living tree is the greenest solution. They won't dry out in your living room and rather than spending an eternity in the local landfill, they can happily absorb planet-warming CO₂ in your backyard.

Dark Sky at Night

Artificial night lighting doesn’t just spoil star shows; it can confuse nocturnal animals and waste energy. The International Dark-Sky Association offers these tips for reducing light pollution around your home:

• Choose the lowest possible wattage. A 40-watt incandescent bulb (or a nine- to 13-watt compact fluorescent lamp) is sufficient for most outdoor uses.

• Add shielding that points the light downward for any source brighter than a 100-watt incandescent.

• For security applications, use motion-sensor lights; they save energy and also draw attention to intruders.

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Cybermentor
Would you like to inspire the next generation of engineers?

If you have 10 minutes a week to help a girl realize her potential, then you should become a mentor. You can make a difference through the Cybermentor program, an online mentoring program aimed at girls in Alberta, ages 11 through 18.

The program matches girls with women who have chosen careers in engineering, science, medicine, math or technology. These matches are held during the school year and you will exchange online messages once a week. Over 2,000 women and girls participate. Cybermentor is headquartered out of the University of Calgary.

To sign up, please visit www.cybermentor.ca and click on Join Cybermentor today!

If you have any questions, please contact the Cybermentor Program Director at 403-220-8283 or administrator@cybermentor.

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WinSETT Centre Launch and The First Annual WISEST Lecture

Building Gender Diversity – Lecture by the Hon. A. Anne McLellan, P.O., O.C.
M.C. Lesley MacDonald, Host, Woman of Vision

Thursday, Jan. 14, 5 – 8 pm
Telus Centre, University of Alberta, 111th Street & 87th Avenue
Parking under the Timm’s Centre off 112th Street

Wine and cheese reception at 5 pm with hors d’oeuvres at 7 pm
RSVP to www.wisest.ualberta.ca

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PEGs Ahead

Watch for these stories in coming hardcopy and online editions of The PEG

• The Case of the Missing G – Our new magazine launches in early February, with new features, more colour and a new approach to hardcopy coverage.

• Look Who’s Become a Member – You never know who is going to be joining the ranks of Alberta’s largest professional association.

• Teamwork Plus – Associated Engineering assembles a super team to come up with an award-winning upgrade of a water treatment plant.

• The Summit Series – more articles on our 2009 winners.

• Going Nuclear – Our inaugural mag takes on one of the hottest and most controversial energy subjects in the province.

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