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Scientific
Albertans
From top, Edmonton Science Olympians show their work – and their enthusiasm;
members of the City of Calgary team help kick of National Engineering & Geoscience
Week in their city; and Mountain View School students take part in one of the
week’s science nights, which are a first for the annual series of APEGGA-sponsored
events. |
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BY TARA MADDEN
Public Relations Coordinator
APEGGA professionals, students and the public took math
and science out of the classroom and into the hands-on world
to celebrate National Engineering & Geoscience Week,
Feb. 27 to March 7. Featuring Science Olympics, a bridge
building competition and much more, the week helped increase
public awareness about the important roles that engineers,
geologists and geophysicists play in our everyday lives.
This year’s theme, Visions of Things to Come, reminded
us there is more to come from these talented professionals.
Across the province, APEGGA sponsored events and activities
to showcase the impressive work engineers and geoscientists
do.
The week officially kicked off Feb. 27 with civic proclamations
in communities throughout Alberta. Displays, corporate challenges
and other celebratory activities took place at city and town
halls to mark the start of celebrations.
For the ninth straight year, APEGGA teamed up with the Edmonton
Journal and the Calgary Herald to produce a special section
highlighting the province’s vibrant engineering and
geoscience communities. Reaching more than 700,000 households
in Alberta, the supplement hit the streets of Edmonton Feb.
26 and Calgary Feb. 27. Advertising from APEGGA members,
permit holders and employers of APEGGA professional supported
the production of this promotional publication.
APEGGA also sponsored the Provincial School Challenge, which
gave students across Alberta a chance to use the principles
of physics in combination with structural and materials engineering
principles. This year, students in Grades 1-12 were asked
to design a bridge made of craft sticks (popularly known
as a Popsicle stick bridge) that can hold as much weight
as possible. Over 60 entries were received and winning teams
will earn a cash prize for their schools.
Calgary Joins Science Olympics
Fred Flintstone-style cars and paper geodesic domes took
centre stage at the Science Olympics, held in several Alberta
communities. APEGGA sponsors the Science Olympics to promote
excellence and innovation in science learning for elementary,
junior and senior high school students.
Almost 200 students took part in APEGGA’s first Calgary
Science Olympics, Feb. 28 in the Big 4 Building at Stampede
Park. Edmonton’s Science Olympics attracted over 350
students to the Shaw Conference Centre on March 6.
Science Olympics were also held in Grande Prairie on March
13 and in Fort McMurray on March 20, with impressive turnouts
and enthusiastic competitors.
APEGGA issued its first food structure challenge to members
and organizations: build a food structure with non-perishable
food items and after National Engineering & Geoscience
Week, donate the food items to a charity of your choice.
APEGGA hosted a website with photos of the food structures
created and provided a certificate to each organization,
acknowledging its participation.
Science Nights Held
APEGGA also launched Family Science Nights at elementary
schools in Calgary and Edmonton. These were a huge success.
Students, parents and school staff participated in the
hands-on science activities and demonstrations staffed
by APEGGA volunteers.
Engineering students at the University of Alberta joined
the celebration of the week and hosted a variety of events,
including the popular Pi Throw for Habitat for Humanity,
and a new spring formal dinner for students and alumni.
Preliminary planning is underway for next year’s week.
Plan to volunteer for one of the activities, get your kids
involved, or just come out and be part of the fun and excitement.
APEGGA thanks the many volunteers and organizations who
supported the many provincewide activities. National Engineering & Geoscience
Week was a success because of their fine efforts.
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