Regional Finals in  "Future City Competition^TM"  Set

Students create a vision of the future

Chicago,   November;  In conjunction with NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK^TM  (NEW),  Chicago engineering societies will be hosting a student design competition in area schools.  The contest, known as the  "Future City Competition^TM"    (www.futurecitychicago.org) , will require junior high and middle school students with the assistance of an engineer mentor, to design a future city with SimCity 4 Deluxe software and then build three-dimensional table top model to scale.

This program has been developed by engineers to provide much needed technological education to the students.  According to Bob Johnson, spokesman for the Chicago program, the competition is in its nineteenth year and is the only one of the 39 regional programs that has competed continuously in all years.  "Currently teams from more than twenty Chicago area middle schools and two teams coming all the way from Missouri are starting work on their futuristic cities using the SimCity software and beginning to write their essays."   This year’s essay topic is –    Fuel Your Future: Imagine new ways to meet our energy needs and maintain a healthy planet.     Students will also write a City Narrative outlining the key features of their city. 

Regional chairman Don Wittmer notes, "It is exciting to see the interaction between the students and witness the enthusiasm that these students have in learning about engineering and the real life problems that are encounter everyday.  Our hope is that this competition helps students consider the possibility of studying engineering when they attend college."  Derek Johnson, co-coordinator adds, "It is a great experience for all involved -- the students have fun while learning about engineering and gaining valuable teamwork and presentation skills.  Engineers, mentors, judges and volunteers always leave impressed by the students' ability and enthusiasm."

Locally, the regional judging for the competition will take place Saturday, January 21, 2012, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 750 South Halsted.  Judging of the projects will begin 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m.  The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony beginning about 3:00 p.m..    The student models will be on display until the conclusion of the awards ceremony.  The public is invited and encouraged to see the vision of the future as seen by Chicagoland's 6^th, 7th and 8th grade students.  There is no cost to attend.

Students from Chicago area schools will be competing for the top prize.  The winning school will receive prizes and trophies for the team members.   In addition dozens of ‘special awards’ will be present to students.  All participants will receive gifts courtesy of the Chicagoland Engineers Week Committee and local engineering/architecture firms.  In addition, team members from the winning school will advance to the final judging in Washington,  DC. during NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK^TM,  February 19-25, 2012. The winner of the national competition will receive a week's trip to Space Camp.  Top teams from the Regional Competition will be honored at the Annual Chicagoland Engineers Benefit, February 24, 2012.

Since 1951, NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK^TM, has been the nationwide celebration of the engineering profession, to acknowledge the essential role which engineering has played in advancing civilization and adding quality to our lives.  In Chicago, activities scheduled include engineering lectures, student outreach efforts, bridge building competitions and exhibitions of engineering achievements.   More than 33,000 students from 1000 schools in 39 regions participated in the 2011 competition.  It is sponsored by the National Engineers Week Committee, a consortium of engineering associations and major U.S. industries.   Co-chairs for 2012 are Battelle and ASME. 

Visit the National Engineers Week^TM  WEBSITE at http://www.eweek.org

Chicago Engineers Week information  at  http://www.chicagolandeweek.org

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