Annual Engineering Week provides information for students and community

George Washington was an engineer. 

A surveying engineer to be precise — and that's why Utah State University's College of Engineering celebrates Engineering Week around Presidents Day, each year.   

Trevin Hafen, the president for the College of Engineering's E-Council, said the goal this year was to help people understand who engineers are and what they do.

To that end, signs advertising the benefits of engineering were placed across campus with messages such as “did you turn on your lights today? You’re welcome,” and “Al Gore didn't invent the Internet. Thank an engineer instead.”

The week included daily events including club competitions, guest speakers and a panel of employers who shared what they look for when hiring graduate students.

“The objective was to celebrate all forms of engineering and to get the community as well as other students involved in what we do as engineers,” said Shayli Elliott, a biological engineering student.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME, advertised by displaying two of its trebuchets on the lawn in front of the Merrill-Cazier Library. The trebuchets are non-electrical catapult devices used in a pumpkin-throwing contest held annually in North Logan. Alan Edlund, a member of ASME, said the purpose of the contest is to help mechanical engineers understand some of the real-world applications of engineering. He said that this year there were about a half-dozen teams but he would like to increase participation in the future.

“Next year we are hoping to get more participants,” Edlund said. “Somewhere around seven to 10.”

On Thursday, there was a community expo held at the Engineering Building from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The expo included senior design projects, demonstrations, the Ms. Engineering Pageant and free Aggie Ice Cream.

Keri Laughter, a senior in computer science, helped run the computer science display. She wants people to know computer science is more than just math.

“We want to get the word out there that computer science is fun and interesting,” Laughter said.

Jordan Cox, an engineering student, was in charge of a "walking on water" demonstration — an example of so-called "non-Newtonian" fluids that solidify when struck. Cox said he enjoys the hands-on aspect of science and one of his favorite ways to educate people about engineering is through outreach programs.

“We take fun demonstrations like this to kids in schools and show them how fun science can be, and how it can change the world,” Cox said.

The College of Engineering estimated it met its goal of having more than 200 people at the expo. Shayli Elliott was pleased with the success.

“There was more community turnout than years before,” she said. “It was fun.”

Brooke Larsen, McCarty Hatfield, Tricia Olson, Rhys Stephens, and Landon Graham contributed to this article.