By Shirley Tang
During the 2024-2025 program year, the ASCE Pittsburgh Section has supported educational programming events hosted by the Carnegie Science Center. These outreach events bring students from schools across Western Pennsylvania to provide exposure and connection to different STEM fields.
The ASCE Pittsburgh Section recently participated in the February and March SciTech Days, a monthly event that engages students and connects them with industry professionals. The February Theme was Physics & Engineering in conjunction with National Engineers Week and the March theme was Women+ In Stem in combination with the Carnegie Science Center’s Tour Your Future (TYF) program for girls and non-binary youth.
The ASCE Pittsburgh Section prepared several demonstrations including the Environmental and Water Resources Institute’s (EWRI) enviroscape model, illustrating the concept of watersheds and discussing the role of engineers in designing and managing water systems. The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) prepared demonstrations of structural building kits and a wind tunnel, which emphasized the importance of applying physics and engineering principles in structural design. Additionally, ASCE volunteers participated in career connection panels, which connected professionals and students to discuss career questions and how students can prepare for future professions.
Each SciTech Day hosted over 500 students in addition to the hundreds of museum visitors throughout the day, making them a great opportunity to connect with the local community about ASCE and the field of civil engineering.
In April, the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF) was held to showcase the projects of over 400 6-12th grade students. The range of topics covered by these students included astronomy, biology, computer science, engineering, health sciences, robotics, and much more.
ASCE Pittsburgh Section members participated as Sponsor Judges to award two outstanding projects across the two-day fair. Judges evaluated the projects during a poster session and had the opportunity to interview individual students to determine the standout projects.
One awarded project was Effect of AMD and Road Salt on Plant Growth for which the student grew plants of several varieties with water collected from local sources, including a tap water control, road salt impacted, and AMD impacted water. The growth rate and quality of growth were evaluated to compare the impact of the water source. The second awarded project was How Prepared Is the City of Pittsburgh Prepared for Climate Change? Part 2, which reviewed historical and projected changes in weather patterns and city plans to combat the effects of climate change. The student then prepared an assessment of the degree of severity that...
