December 10, 2009
6th-8th graders invited to free after-school engineering program
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University will offer students in sixth through eighth grades two after-school engineering sessions next semester.The Innovation to Reality (I2R) program, sponsored by Purdue's Women in Engineering Program, will focus on finding solutions to the global problems of diabetes and water scarcity.
The sessions will offer presentations, lab tours and hands-on activities coordinated by Purdue faculty and students.
According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States -- 7.8% of the population -- have diabetes. Diabetes cases are expected to double in 25 years at an annual cost of more than $336 billion.
The World Health Organization reports that water scarcity affects one in three people worldwide. One quarter of the global population lives in developing countries that lack the infrastructure to bring water from rivers and aquifers.
The diabetes session will run from 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 13-Feb. 10. Registration deadline is Jan. 4.
The water scarcity session will run from 4-6 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 8-March 8. Registration deadline is Jan. 25.
The sessions are free, but a refundable deposit is required to hold an applicant's position. Registration is limited to the first 25 students to apply per session. Registration is available at https://engineering.purdue.edu/WIEP
For more information, contact Velvet Fitzpatrick at vfitzpat@purdue.edu , 765-494-2582.
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Source: Jennifer Groh, 765-494-0758, jgroh@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
To the News Service home page