On Feb. 18-19, 2014, over 50 STEM related organizations within UF’s College of Engineering held their annual Engineering and Science Fair comprised of interactive activities designed to allow students a hands-on view into multiple engineering concepts.

Young students had the opportunity to meet and talk with current college engineering students and hear their personal accounts of the “college” engineering experience. Attendees also could participate in a short campus tour of the engineering departments, listen to mini lectures from industry professionals and also participate in a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt consisted of numerous engineering questions that could only be answered by visiting each organizations booth at the fair. Some of the organizations represented within UF are its chapters for the Florida Engineering Society (FES), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

For middle and high school students this type of event is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to the many engineering disciplines and get a glimpse of the types of projects and work that can be achieved when pursuing an engineering or science degree.