NYS Master Teacher Program brings more than 100 high school students to Buffalo State for nationwide engineering event
Approximately 125 students from seven area high schools came to Buffalo State on Wednesday, May 21, to participate in the nationwide Bridges Engineering Design Day, which offered students the opportunity to engage in a high-level engineering task, be introduced to the engineering design process, and explore the impact of bridges on people and societies.
The event was co-hosted by Engineering Tomorrow and the New York State Master Teacher Program, for which Buffalo State is the host campus.
Bridges Engineering Design Day connected nearly 10,000 students across the country via Zoom as they engaged in the design, construction, and testing of model bridges. Engineering Tomorrow provided the materials for the students to work with, guidance on design aspects to consider, and an on-site engineer, Joanna Caudle, to lead the students.
Students worked together in small teams using wooden dowels, popsicle sticks, tape, and glue to create a bridge that could support a hanging weight from its center, then tested it with a combination of books and water bottles to see how much weight the bridge could withstand before breaking.
The day concluded with a speech from Nicola Turrini, representative of Bridges to Prosperity, an organization that brings together resources to create bridges in underdeveloped countries, thereby allowing families safe access to food, medicine, and education. Turrini shared his story and what led him to working with such an amazing organization where he now serves as Global Corporate Partnerships Manager.
“These Engineering Tomorrow labs inspire and engage students,” said David Wilson, Buffalo State associate professor and one of the regional directors for the Master Teacher Program’s Western New York chapter. “Perhaps the greatest inspiration came from the direct interaction students had with the engineers and engineering students that were there to respond to design questions, share what it is like to study or work in the field, and what is required to become an engineer.”
Photos by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.
