The School of Engineering has planned an array of fun, inspiring and illuminating activities in celebration of National Engineers Week, which takes place February 20-26 this year. For full details, please consult the calendar appearing on our website at www.engr.uconn.edu.

February 21

The week will kick off at the Storrs campus with a February 21 talk by Dr. Gary Messing, the Distinguished Professor of Ceramic Science & Engineering, and Head of Materials Science & Engineering, at Penn State University. Dr. Messing’s remarks, on the topic “Innovations in Materials Science & Technology for a Sustainable World,” are offered as part of the School’s Engineering New Frontiers Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings eminent thinkers and engineering leaders to campus to discuss a variety of grand challenge topics. The 4 p.m. event will take place in the Konover Auditorium of the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center. Learn more about Dr. Messing’s lecture, and the lecture series, here.

February 22

Dr. Messing will present a technical seminar entitled, “Transparent Polycrystalline, Rare Earth-Doped Laser Gain Media – Processing, Properties and Challenges” at 11:00 a.m. in IMS room 20.

The School will again host its Career Fair, with a change of location and time punctuating this year’s spring fair. The event will take place in the Student Union Ballroom from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. More than 30 employers will be on hand to meet with students, from freshmen through graduate students, to discuss career, internship and co-op opportunities. Industrial manufacturers, software and computing firms, consulting practices, insurers, food processors and other employers will participate in the fair. Full details may be found on the dedicated Career Fair pages of our website.

At 2:00 p.m., engineering alumnus Craig Ashmore (B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering ‘84) will present a second Distinguished Lecture, at the Konover Auditorium in the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, entitled “Perspective on Career Management and Development.” Mr. Ashmore, an executive vice president at Emerson Electric, manages the company’s strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate technology functions, as well as Emerson Network Power’s connectivity solutions business.

In the evening, starting at 4:30 p.m., the School will celebrate its exceptional undergraduate and graduate students during the annual Scholarship Awards Reception and Ceremony, to be held at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. During the pre-award reception, visitors may browse posters summarizing student research projects and speak directly with the students about their work. The event will feature the popular a capella group, Extreme Measures before proceeding to the award of academic scholarships to undergraduate students and recognition of graduate students who received prestigious fellowship awards. The awards portion of the ceremony will begin at 6:00 p.m. In 2010, the School was able to award $377,254 in merit scholarships to over 235 continuing students, thanks to the generous donations of corporate friends, alumni, faculty and friends. For information about donating to engineering scholarships, please contact Noreen Wall at noreen@engr.uconn.edu.

February 23

In the evening, General Electric will sponsor a design night challenge for engineering students from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

February 24

Student members of the engineering societies on campus will be offering demonstrations and exhibits in the foyer and concourse of the Information Technologies Engineering (ITE) building and on the second floor of the F.L. Castleman building during the day.

That evening, United Technologies Corporation and ASME will host a 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. reception, dinner and lecture at the UConn Alumni House. Interested students must RSVP to ASME.

February 25

On Friday evening, engineering students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the annual Engineering Formal hosted by the Engineering Student Leadership Council (ESLC). The event will be held from 7:00-11:00 p.m. in Rome Commons Ballroom and include dinner, live music and a DJ. Tickets will be available during the week of February 21-26; to purchase tickets ($15/ticket; $20/couple), please contact the ESLC.

Please consult the calendar appearing on our website (www.engr.uconn.edu) for details.