Engineering profession gets a boost

Engineering is front and centre of the public eye this month with the celebration of the annual National Engineering & Geoscience Month.

In Saskatchewan the profession even won political recognition, with the announcement by the Minister of Highways and Infrastructure Jim Reiter that March 4 to March 10 is designated Engineering and Geoscience Week in the province. “Whether it is ensuring the transportation system keeps our export-based economy moving or pioneering new technology to improve our quality of life and prosperity, engineers and geoscientists play a key role in the design of Saskatchewan’s future,” Reiter said. “Saskatchewan is a great place to live and the men and women of this profession deserve recognition and a hearty thank you for their ongoing work, which has contributed to our province’s growth.”

In Toronto, engineering students from 11 universities across Ontario carried on a tradition by displaying one of the world’s largest Rube Goldberg machine. On March 7 they were to assemble at the CN Tower to see the final segment of the machine after it had travelled across Ontario. The motion machine was to end up by lighting the entire tower purple. The event was organized by teh Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) and involved students from Carlton University, Conestoga College, Lakehead University, McMaster University, UOIT, University of Ottawa, University of Guelph, University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario and Windsor University.

In Alberta, National Engineering and Geoscience Month there will be a host of college and school science olympics and fairs, as well as student awards dinners, events hosted by Engineers Without Borders, CanStruction Calgary, and a weekend of lectures and workshops at Mount Royal University in Calgary on March 17-18 organized by the Alberta Paleontological Society.