HU Hosts 4th Annual "Adventures in Engineering" for Local Schoolchildren

Hampton, VA - Hampton  University will host the fourth annual “Adventures in Engineering” conference  Saturday, April 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to elementary and middle school students and their families and is designed to expose them to  the opportunities and possibilities in the field of engineering.

More than 150 people are expected to attend this year's event, which is being presented jointly by the Society of Women Engineers' HU student chapter and Hampton Roads professional section.

The workshop will take place at the McGrew Towers Conference Center and will include a number of discussions, experiments  and hands-on activities to introduce students in grades 3-8 to the field of engineering.

The main goal of the event is to introduce students to engineering, according to Jale Akyurtlu, HU chemical engineering professor and faculty advisor to the HU student chapter of SWE. This includes what exactly it is that engineers do and how they need to prepare academically for an education in engineering.

“Adventures in Engineering” will feature demonstrations on water purification, building architecture using toothpicks and candy, and creating different types of “ooze.”

There will also be two panels to answer questions from students and parents. The first panel will feature professional engineers and academics, who will discuss the field of engineering, offer tips for education, and highlight learning opportunities in the field.

The second panel will include HU engineering students, who will answer questions and offer insight into their experiences.

For more information, please contact Jale Akyurtlu at 727-5589 or Sharon Hollins at 380-3934.