A Salute to Professional Engineers & Geoscientists
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/271345
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS PROVINCIAL ENGINEERING & GEOSCIENCE WEEK | 3 Doyouhave whatittakes tobea world-class engineer? Generating bright futures Explorethecompany.Findoutwhereyouexcel. Engineeryourfuture. Visitourwebsiteat:www.hydro.mb.ca/careers Follow us on: www.linkedin.com/company/ manitoba-hydro Withalonghistoryofengineeringexcellence, ManitobaHydrooffersdiverseandchallengingcareer opportunitiesfortherightcandidatesinelectrical, civil,andmechanicalengineering. Recentengineeringgradshavetheopportunity toobtainexposuretotheCorporationasawhole, throughrotationalassignmentsinourwell-recognized Engineer-in-TrainingProgram. Systemplanning,design,construction,andHydro's world-renownedHVDCsystemarejustafewofthe areasavailableforexcitingengineeringcareers. COMPETITION STIFF IN SPAGHETTI BRIDGE CHALLENGE C learly, some kids don't listen to their parents when they're told not to play with their food. But that may not be such a bad thing when it comes to the annual Spaghetti Bridge Building Competition, hosted by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba (APEGM). It's just one of the many exciting events APEGM has planned during Provincial Engineering and Geoscience Week, which runs from March 9-16, that are designed to encourage young minds to consider careers in the field. Arguably the most entertaining event of Provincial Engineering and Geoscience Week, the big spaghetti build usually draws quite the crowd. Last year there were more than 200 school-age participants including 11 classes. Armed with nothing more than glue, spaghetti and wild imaginations, participants build their bridges in advance and bring them to Kildonan Place Shopping Centre for the competition. Event organizers are hoping to increase the number of registrations this year and anticipate 300 students will take part, keeping them running from beginning to end. The competition, which will be held this year on Sat., March 15 at Kildonan Place, is open to all students, grades 1-12. The goal is to see whose bridge will support the heaviest load. It's a fun event designed to give students, teachers and parents an opportunity to get involved in hands-on engineering. The program provides participants with an introduction to engineering in a fun and easy way. It shows the creative power of brainstorming, working effectively with a team or individually on a single task with multiple sections, how to work within limitations (weight and dimensions), and the use of different structural designs (strength of a three- point structure). Many students plan all year for the event – some teams register year after year and some teachers have added the program to their curriculum. It's made such an impact that some students who participated in elementary school have also participated through junior high and senior high, then go on to university to study engineering, and now come out to volunteer for the event. For an idea of how serious the competition really is, one bridge constructed by an elementary school student held over 300 kilograms (much to crowd's delight, said organizers). Part of the spectacle is the pasta 'explosion' that accompanies the collapse under weight. Flying spaghetti may not sound dangerous, but organizers provide safely glasses for spectators standing close by. But it's not all fun and games – contestants are competing for valuable bragging rights, plus the $2,000 in prize money which is up for grabs. In addition, APEGM has included a meaningful charitable component and will make a donation to Winnipeg Harvest equal to the cumulative weight supported by all entries in the Winnipeg competition. Last year, the students' bridges held a total of 12,305 pounds, resulting in a matching donation from Canada Safeway and Peak of the Market for a total donation of 26,915 pounds of food to Winnipeg Harvest – all thanks to the ingenuity of the student competitors. There will also be a Pasta Bridge Design Competition on Sun., March 16. In this competition, the bridges are larger and can be made of any kind of pasta, and are not tested until failure for strength. Bridges are evaluated based on creativity and technical excellence. Judging will take place Sunday afternoon and students do not need to be in attendance for their bridges to be judged. Bridges can be dropped off as early as 9 a.m. Saturday Who can master the pasta? ByAileenDeWyngaertfortheFreePress CO CO CONT NTIN INUED ON NEX EXT PA PAGE GE GE (All photos courtesy APEGM) Kids watch as a spaghetti bridge is tested for strength. A pasta bridge awaits judging at last year's Provincial Engineering and Geoscience Week at Kildonan Place Shopping Centre.