NAE Celebrates National Engineer's Week

February 16, 2007 -- Feb. 18-24 is National Engineer's Week. During this week, professional and educational organizations collaborate to raise awareness of engineering's benefit to society and to promote education in math, science, and technology.

To celebrate National Engineer's Week -- and to highlight the role of women in engineering -- the National Academy of Engineering has launched Ask an Engineer. Available through its EngineerGirl! Web site, Ask an Engineer provides the opportunity to e-mail questions about engineering-related topics and get answers from women engineers.

In addition, EngineerGirl! sponsors an annual essay contest for pre-college students. The winning essays should highlight the positive impact of engineering on the world. The 2007 contest is on engineering’s "Grand Challenges" and is open to students in grades 6 through 12.

Also, the National Academy of Engineering invites the public to brainstorm about ways engineering can help shape the world’s future. A prestigious international committee of experts in science and technology, chaired by former U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry, will use submitted ideas to identify Grand Challenges for Engineering.

The Draper, Russ, Gordon, and Grainger Prizes -- each awarded by NAE -- recognize exceptional achievement in engineering. The four awards will be given at a ceremony on Feb. 20, in Washington, D.C.

• National Engineer's Week