TUSCALOOSA, Ala.
- The University of Alabama College
of Engineering will host a program called UA-ME Day
to introduce ninth- through 12th-grade girls to engineering through
the hands-on creation of a robot, on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002, from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the UA campus. There is no cost to participate,
and applications will be accepted through Dec. 15.
The girls will create an autonomous robot using such materials as
LEGOs with motors, gears, rotary encoders and touch sensors, and will
also program their robots to perform specified tasks. They will be
introduced to mechanical systems, programming, electronic sensors,
teaming activities and the design process.
At least two of the participants will receive a $500 scholarship
from the mechanical engineering
department at UA.
There is also a parallel program during the same timeframe for
parents, teachers or counselors who accompany the students, to introduce
them to college life at UA.
UA-ME Day is sponsored by the Universitys student sections
of the Society of Women Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers, which recently received a Diversity Action Grant from
ASME to develop the program.
Applications can be downloaded from the Internet at www.me.ua.edu/swe,
or can be requested from Dr. Beth Todd, associate professor of mechanical
engineering, at 205/348-1623, or by e-mail to btodd@coe.eng.ua.edu.
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