Future City Competition Putting the “E” in STEM

1. Future City CompetitionPutting the “E” in STEM Jean Eason Regional Coordinator regional@dfwfuturecity,org www.dfwfuturecity.org

2. Future City Program = Future Engineers Educational program that not only hones STEM skills, but also • Provides middle school students with the opportunity to learn about engineering careers by completing the various program phases and working with an engineer-mentor • Links classroom activities to future career opportunities

3. Future City Competition • Sponsored by DiscoverE (formerly National Engineers Week) • Started in 1992 as a 1-time project • Now in 40 Regions in US • 3 regions in Texas • Annual Statistics • 40,000 middle school students • 1000+ middle schools • 7500 volunteers • 225,000 volunteer service hours

4. North Texas Regional • Measures of Success • 14th year • More than 600 students in the N TX region from 40 public schools in 29 districts, 3 private schools, 5 homeschools • More than 50% of the students are minority or female • 33% of the schools have >50% of students in assisted lunch program • Attracts students to engineering: >50% will consider engineering as a career • Improves STEM skills: vast majority of students better understand math, science, technology and how they are important to the future • Involves the entire engineering community • More than 100 engineers in N TX give more than 1000 hours of their time to FC • Display models at Eweek exhibition at FW Museum of Science & History

5. 2014 North Texas Sponsors

6. Why This Competition Stands Out • Targets middle school students • Emphasizes 21st century skills: problem solving, communication, teamwork • Provides interaction among students, teachers, and engineer-mentors for experiential learning • Hands-on, project-based, real-world challenges • Mimics the Engineering Design Process • Labor intensive, but inclusive of all student skill-levels • Low cost allows any school or organization to participate • Proven to inspire students to explore futuristic concepts and technical careers

7. Program Elements • The Challenge: Design and Build a Livable City of the Future • Work in teams • Conceive an initial city plan, design • Simulate, refine solution • Research, write paper • Build physical scale model • Stay within budget • Present final solution to judges

8. Step 1 • Build a team

9. Step 2 • Build a team • Initial Design and Simulation • SimCity ™

10. Step 3 • Build a team • Initial Design and Simulation • Write paper on an assigned engineering topic • Applying nanotechnology to structural health monitoring • Devising a plan to use fuel cells as a power source for the city • Managing Stormwater runoff • Solving tomorrow’s transit problems • Developing an urban agriculture program to feed your city

11. Step 4 • Build a team • Initial Design and Simulation • Write paper on an assigned engineering topic • Build a physical model • To scale • Within budget • Moving part

12. Step 5 • Build a team • Initial Design and Simulation • Write paper on an assigned engineering topic • Build a physical model • Present and defend design • Panel of judges

13. Awards and Prizes 1st Place • Trophy • Medals • Gift cards • Check for organization • Trip to Washington, DC 2nd and 3rd Places • Medals • Gift cards • Check for organization Special Awards • Plaque-Certificate • Gift cards • Check for organization * (* depends on sponsor)

14. Register Now! • Register online: www.dfwfuturecity.org • Registration fee: $25 (per organization) • Schools: public, private, parochial, homeschools • Youth organizations: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4-H, etc. • Multiple teams per organization allowed (for one registration fee) • FC supplies: • SimCity program • Handbook of rules and suggestions • Webinar training sessions