HU to Host 6th Annual Adventures in Engineering for Local Youth

Hampton, VA - Hampton University will host this year's Adventures in Engineering conference on Saturday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the HU Olin Engineering Building. The event is free and open to elementary and middle school students as well as their families. Adventures in Engineering is a program designed to expose young students to the opportunities and possibilities available in the field of engineering. The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) HU student section and the SWE Region E Members at Large section are hosting this years conference.

According to Dr. Jale Akyurtlu, HU chemical engineering professor and faculty advisor to the HU student section of SWE, the conference is designed to be a career and educational guide to 60 students in grades 5-8.

Akyurtlu believes that the main goal of the conference is to introduce students to engineering. The conference will include information about a career in engineering and how students can prepare academically for an education in engineering.

"There are enormous opportunities in engineering careers for young people in the next millennium," stated Akyurtlu.

The conference will feature demonstrations on building architecture using pasta and marshmallows and a probe experiment explaining the laws of physics. A panel of professional engineers and academics will be available to answer questions from students and parents, discussing the field of engineering, offering tips for education and highlighting learning opportunities in the field.

The deadline for registration is March 21, 2008, space is limited. For registration, contact Sharon Hollins at sharon.hollins@ngc.com.