March 2009

National Engineering and Geoscience Month Committee Launches New Project

Every year, we celebrate engineering and geoscience during National Engineering and Geoscience Month (NEGM) [formerly Engineering and Geoscience Week [NEGW] to raise awareness of the importance of these professions and to highlight career opportunities for young people. 

The 18th annual event runs from March 1 to 31 and is sponsored by Engineers Canada and the provincial engineering/geoscience associations, including PEGNL, and is supported by the various industry sectors, engineering firms, engineers and geoscientists throughout the Province. 

The main event throughout Newfoundland and Labrador has been the Model Bridge Competition for junior high school students. This year, in a trial project on the Avalon Peninsula, the bridge competition has been expanded to include high school students. These students have to write an essay as well as build their model bridges, made of popsicle sticks and white glue. 

"This year, we went to Holy Trinity High to demonstrate to these students how the model bridges are designed, built and tested," says Kim Durant, P.Eng., Chair of the NEGM Committee. Science teacher Carol Roberts created a webpage showing photos from the demonstration.  To view click here.

We held the St. John's Bridge Competition at the Johnson GEO Centre on March 7, with registration starting at 9 a.m. The maximum load measured during the day was an amazing 2324 kg, on a bridge built by 7th grader Shania Williams. The final results will be announced later in the month once all chapters have completed their testing and submitted the results. 

In addition to the Bridge Competition, an annual Poster Contest receives entries from students in kindergarten to grade 3 throughout Newfoundland and Labrador; and Word Search [in the February 28 supplement in The Telegram] is open to primary and elementary students. Other events include the Newfoundland Science Centre's Cardboard Boat Race, sponsored in part by PEGNL, to be held at various locations throughout the province in March and April. PEGNL gratefully acknowledges the volunteers throughout the province who make NEGM possible. 

The NEGM 2009 St. John's Committee is chaired by Kim Durant, P.Eng., with members: Rick Goosney, P.Eng.; John Pitt, P.Eng. ; Susann Woolgar, P.Eng.; Darin LeBlanc, P.Eng.; Craig Warren, P.Eng.; Natalie Hallett, P.Eng.; Dale Groves P.Eng.; Stephen Winsor, P. Eng.;Terri Goodyear, E.I.T.; Keith Moore, Johnson GEO Centre, MUN student liaison Jill Henderson and PEGNL liaison Joan Fillier. 

In other areas of the province, NEGM volunteers include Roger Butt, P.Eng. and Stephen Locke, P. Eng.; in Clarenville; Jim Harty, P.Eng. in Gander; Rob Kearley, P.Eng. in Grand Falls-Windsor; Ian Osmond, P. Eng. and Lionel Keeping, P. Eng. in Corner Brook; Steven Osborne, E.I.T. in Labrador City; and Kent Randell, P.Eng. in Goose Bay. 

PEGNL also gratefully acknowledges the continued financial support of TD Insurance Meloche-Monnex and Vale Inco Ltd., and thanks to those organizations who supported NEGM by buying advertisements or providing articles for the NEGM supplement in The Telegram, Western Star and The Packet, and providing prizes for the Trivia Contest.

© Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador