Youth can explore engineering opportunities at free conference at Mason

Middle school and high school students can watch a drone demonstration, learn how Netflix works, and make a circuit with pencil lead at the free Engineering Youth Conference on February 17. It’s part of Mason Engineering’s kickoff for National Engineers Week.

The event—sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corporation, Google for Education, Accenture, Harris Corporation, Jellyfish, and Fairfax County Public Schools—is designed to give attendees a chance to explore different engineering opportunities.

 “Students don’t get to see and experience engineering in high school so this is their chance to do hands-on activities in the engineering and technology fields,” says Kamaljeet Sanghera, executive director of STEM Outreach.

Guest speakers include Mason President Ángel Cabrera; former NFL linebacker and author Ken Harvey; Diane G. Miller, Northrop Grumman’s director of InfoSec Operations and Identity Management and director of Global Cyber Education and Workforce Development Programs; and Tameika Hollis, executive programs director of the Cyber and Intelligence Mission Solutions Division, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.

Students will learn about different engineering disciplines to help them figure out which one might be the best fit for them. Professors from several universities will offer activities in the fields of civil engineering, computer science and technology, systems engineering, bioengineering, mechanical engineering, and cybersecurity.

Attendees will able to examine exhibits on robotics, drones, and steel bridges, as well as meet industry representatives and university faculty.

The event presenters include George Mason University’s Volgenau School of Engineering, Virginia Tech, Federal Bureau of Investigation, The George Washington University, Cisco, and Netflix.

Sign up here for the youth conference.