Newswise — Our nation faces a daunting challenge: college-bound students' interest in engineering majors and careers is on the decline and statistics point to an even greater decline in interest among minority and female students. How do we develop a larger, more diverse talent pool of engineers today to devise the technological innovations of tomorrow? Design Squad, a new reality television series that starts airing on PBS during National Engineers Week (EWeek), Feb.18-24, 2007, address this critical situation. Targeted to 9- to 12-year-old viewers, Design Squad's premise is: getting kids excited about engineering can be accomplished when you have the right ingredients--energy, enthusiasm, humor and teamwork.
On Feb.16, the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science (MS)2 will welcome cast members and producers of Design Squad and its major funders, the National Science Foundation and Intel. Design Squad is right at home at (MS)2, whose mandate is to prepare middle school students to study and pursue careers in math, science and engineering through innovation and technology. Students will get a sneak preview of the show, participate in a hands-on engineering activity and interact with one of the show's hosts and a Design Squad contestant.
For information about Design Squad, visit: http://www.pbskidsgo.org/designsquad
What: PBS's Design Squad Sneak Preview at Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science
Who:
Design Squad cast members Deanne and Krishana
Kate Taylor, Senior Executive Producer, Design Squad
Marisa Wolsky, Executive Producer, Design Squad
Kathie Olsen, Deputy Director, National Science Foundation
Brenda Musilli, Director of Education, Intel Corporation
James H. Johnson, Jr., Professor of Civil Engineering and Dean, College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences, Howard University
Paul Organ, Principal, Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science
When: 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Friday, February 16, 2007
Where: Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science, Main Howard University Campus, 405 Howard Place, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Media are invited to attend. Photography, filming and interview opportunities are available. For press materials, visit http://www.wgbh.org/pressroom
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of $5.58 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 1,700 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 40,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes nearly 10,000 new funding awards. The NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
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