Students can learn about engineering next week.
UF’s College of Engineering will host its annual Engineers’ Week, which actually takes place over 11 days, starting Monday. The celebration discusses how important engineering is in society through 20 events. The theme this year is “Spark Imagination.”
“We are looking to broaden our events this year to also appeal to non-engineers,” said Samantha Soto, the executive director of Engineers’ Week. “Engineering is everywhere, and you can’t escape it. It’s something we should all celebrate.”
The events will also display the relationship between engineering and other fields of study. The USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. combines engineering and fine arts.
“There are so many different types of people involved in Engineers’ Week, and we all have to work together to make the week come together,” said Eric Sinco, the assistant director of Engineers’ Week.
Ryan Clements, a UF computer science freshman, said he is looking forward to Engineers’ Week because it will change misconceptions about engineering.
“The whole point of the week is to submerge people in engineering,” the 19-year-old said. “We also get to break people’s views that engineering is all about solving math problems.”
Clements said he is looking forward to the Engineering and Science Fair, which students from across the state attend to learn about engineering.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they see something so cool that they can’t comprehend it,” Clements said. “I think we all remember one piece of technology we liked so much that our parents had to rip us away from it. I hope our activities plant that seed of excitement.”
Soto said UF’s Benton Engineering Council and various student organizations have been planning this year’s Engineers’ Week since September.
“We want students to have a chance to take a break, talk to some new people and have some fun,” Soto said. “With this year’s theme, we want ideas to come out of this week.”
