November   2009 

CONTACT: Don Wittmer (312) 930-9119    e-mail  dwittmer@hntb.com

                 Bill Knight                 (703)  684-2889 

Regional Finals in  "Future City Competition^TM"  Set

Students Ready to 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 for area schools.  The contest, known as the  "Future City Competition^TM"    (www.futurecitychicago.org) , will require middle grade 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 eighteenth year and is the only one of the 39 regional programs that has competed all years.  "Currently teams from more than thirty Chicago area middle schools are starting work on their futuristic cities using the SimCity software and beginning to write their essays."  This year’s essay topic is - “Providing An Affordable Living Space For People Who Have Lost Their Home Due to a Disaster or Financial Emergency.”

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 16, 2010, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 750 South Halsted.  Judging of the projects will begin 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 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 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.  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 14-20, 2010. 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 19, 2010.

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 30,000 students from 1000 schools in 39 regions participated in the 2009 competition.  It is sponsored by the National Engineers Week Committee, a consortium of engineering associations and major U.S. industries.   Co-chairs for 2010 are ExxonMobil Corporation and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

For more information (including sponsorship opportunities)     www.futurecitychicago.org    

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

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

Supplemental resources:

For information on the Chicago winners see photos and additional info @  www.futurecitychicago.org

Check this  video:      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRY3pnR-SwQ

2009 Pictures:     http://www.flickr.com/photos/10752828@N05/sets/72157614572357964/

2009 EWEEK Photos     http://www.flickr.com/photos/10752828@N05/sets/72157614567197278/

2009  Future City Finals:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK73Oln3zGk

2008  Story  and  video    http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=76389

And for [2008] pictures:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/10752828@N05/sets/72157603878323166

2008 EWEEK  Photos (Including Future City) 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10752828@N05/sets/72157604569050537

 additional  information

 http://www.todaysengineer.org/2008/Mar/FCC.asp

http://www.tiesmagazine.org/archives/mar_2003/pdf/mar_2003_FutureCities.pdf

http://www.organicgreenandnatural.com/2009/08/19/middle-school-students-to-design-affordable-housing-in-future-city-competition/ 

http://bdpa.groupsite.com/discussion/topic/show/223796