OMP Outreach Program 2006

Program and Accomplishments

The OMP was conceived to serve economic and broader needs of the public, and these needs extend beyond physical infrastructure. Other priorities include advancement of traditionally underrepresented groups in engineering and construction; improved educational opportunities that draw students to technical career paths; internship programs that expose students to vocational, professional and entrepreneurial opportunities; and communication with the public about the benefits of OMP.

CEAT performed outreach activities on behalf of OMP for 2006. Sited at a preeminent engineering university, CEAT, in partnership with the UIUC College of Engineering, has a team of outreach and education professionals who have delivered effective programs for diversity elements of OMP and educational programs for high school, university and continuing education target groups. UIUC has several educational and diversity initiatives—including Mc4West in collaboration with the City of Chicago—which have served as models and partnerships for the OMP outreach program.

The CEAT outreach accomplishments during 2006 included:

Technology Transfer to OMP through the Brown Bag Lecture Series. This included eight lectures from UIUC faculty and Dr. David Brill, FAA Program Manager for Airport Pavement Technology, NJ.
Leading lectures and activities for the UIUC Science and Engineering Discovery Program on February 16, 2006, at three high schools in the Chicago area – Lane Technical H.S., Morgan Park H.S. and Hales Franciscan H.S. Professor and Center Director, David Lange spoke to students about civil engineering concepts used in its research and in various civil engineering careers.
Exhibiting at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Profession Development Fair on February 24, 2006, to recruit students for internships with CEAT and the OMP Affiliated Engineering Companies that seek qualified college students to fulfill internships for the summer in the Chicago area.
Encouraging underrepresented student groups to study civil engineering at the undergraduate level. On March 6, and August 30, 2006, five Latino students from the Mc4West Program met with Prof. Lange and Zach Grasley, CEAT Ph.D. student, to discuss civil engineering as a major, career opportunities for engineers and a tour of the Newmark Civil Engineering Lab.
Student Internship Program that drew three undergraduate UIUC students who were placed with OMP Affiliated Engineering Companies for summer internships.
Hosting 33 minority high school students from Chicago during their visit to the College of Engineering at UIUC on June 21, 2006, in partnership with the Mc4West Summer Institute program. The Center also hosted 30 middle school students from the Mc4West Saturday Institute Program on October 9, 2006. During each of these programs, CEAT hosted the students for two hours of learning and hands-on activities with Civil and Environmental Engineering principals including Water Physics and the Affect of Water on Materials.
Participated in the UIUC GAMES camp in August 2006 which brought 7th-, 8th- and 9th-grade girls to campus to learn about structural engineering and computer science. Girls' Adventures in Math, Engineering and Science, is a week-long residential camp run by the College of Engineering's Women in Engineering Program and gives academically talented girls an opportunity to explore math, engineering, and science through demonstrations, classroom presentations, hands-on activities and contact with engineers. CEAT hosted several sessions of science demonstrations on Water Physics and the Affects of Materials for 135 girls.
Maintenance of an effective website for public awareness of CEAT research and activities at http://cee.uiuc.edu