Engineers Week 2012: Inspiring the next generation of innovators

Rockwell Collins kicks off its annual celebration of Engineers Week (EWeek) on Saturday, Feb. 18, by sponsoring a free admission day at the Iowa Children's Museum (www.theicm.org) in Coralville. Children and adults alike can take part in hands-on, aviation-related activities.

The kid-friendly activities complement the museum's "Take Flight! The Science of Aviation" exhibit that features state-of-the-art flight simulators built into child-sized airplanes, an air traffic control tower, hot air balloon, pedal planes, Pig Parachutes and more.

For the 10th year, Rockwell Collins will sponsor “Introduce a Girl to Engineering.” The company will host 75 girls from Cedar Rapids area middle schools. On Feb. 21, Rockwell Collins volunteers will give tours, presentations and equipment demonstrations to show the girls engineering career possibilities.

“Girls have consistently told us in surveys they were much more likely to consider a career in engineering after spending the day with our female engineers,” said Rockwell Collins Community Relations Manager Jenny Becker. “This day provides middle school girls with the kind of hands-on experience that can inspire them to become the next generation of engineers and innovators.”

Also as part of Engineers Week, the Iowa Engineering Society (IES) Career Guidance Event will be held Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The event will feature an opportunity to interact with Rockwell Collins engineers at its Roadshow demonstration, as well as breakout sessions, display booths and networking opportunities for high school students.

EWeek activities will also include Rockwell Collins employees visiting K-12 schools in Eastern Iowa and other Rockwell Collins locations across the U.S. to engage them with hands-on activities aimed at spurring students' interest in technology careers.

EWeek is part of Rockwell Collins' Engineering Experiences educational outreach program.

Rockwell Collins teams with the following organizations to provide these activities to the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor: Cedar Rapids Chapter Iowa Engineering Society, Heartland International Council on Systems Engineering, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Women Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics.