February 20, 2009

• Obama stimulus emphasizes infrastructure engineering

• Next generation engineers will meet demands

• UAB event promotes K-12 engineering education

The 20th Annual Brent Newman Memorial Egg Drop contest will be Friday, February 20 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on the east lawn of the UAB Business-Engineering Complex at 1150 10th Ave. S. The contest is sponsored by the UAB chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

As many as 500 students from three dozen Central Alabama elementary, middle and high schools, their teachers and advisors along with UAB School of Engineering students and faculty.    

Students must use approved materials to design an "egg contraption" that will prevent a single raw egg from breaking after a drop from a three-story building. The contraption must fit in a container no larger than 2' x 2' x 2' to be acceptable, but there are no design restrictions. First through third place winners will be named in elementary, middle and high school categories. An overall winner will also be named. Students are judged on their design, its weight, ease of use and creativity.

President Obama's economic stimulus package, which calls for billions in new infrastructure and environmental engineering projects, is just the latest reason behind the growing demand for young engineers. The UAB School of Engineering's egg drop is giving the next generation of engineers one of its first practical engineering experiences.