Celebrate National Engineers Week
From the Society of Women Engineers
This week is National Engineers Week. Help the Society of Women Engineers celebrate by participating in the following events:
Daily facts and trivia
Born in 1847, Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life worldwide into the 21st century. Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,097 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Contrary to popular belief, Edison did not invent the first electric light bulb, but instead invented the first commercially practical incandescent light. Edison patented an electric distribution system in 1880, which was critical to capitalize on the invention of the electric lamp.
Trivia question: What multinational American technology and services company was created by Thomas Edison?
Hint: According to the Forbes Global 2000, it is the world's second-largest company. The company's name had been altered from its original title.
Additional facts and trivia questions will be posted on the Society of Women Engineers Web site each day this week and on the door of the Engineering Office, Room 101, O'Shaughnessy Science Hall.
Invention contest
Do you have a great idea for a machine or invention? If so, we want to know about it. Be creative and test your design skills. Submit an invention description and drawing to the Engineering Office, Room 101, O'Shaughnessy Science Hall, by 4 p.m. Friday for a chance to win great prizes.
Test your engineering intuition
Stop by the Engineers Week table on Tuesday, Feb. 20, outside The Grill in Murray-Herrick Campus Center to take a quiz that tests your engineering brain power. Think you have what it takes to be an engineer? Stop by and find out.
Trip to Mill City Museum
Built within the ruins of a National Historic Landmark, the museum provides a multisensory, interactive journey. The story of flour milling and its impact on Minneapolis, the nation and the world come to life through the eight-story Flour Tower and other hands-on exhibits. The museum is located in downtown Minneapolis next to the Stone Arch Bridge.
There will be a free trip to the museum for students on Thursday, Feb. 22. Buses will leave from the arches at 5:30 p.m. and will return by 9 p.m. Sign up at the Box Office today.
All Engineers Week events and activities are co-sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers and STAR.
For more information, contact Lesley Wyckoff, (651) 497-2077.
