Cyber Engineering Workshop Offered for Young Women

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Local female high school students entering grades 10-12 will participate in a Cyber Engineering Workshop for Young Women to be held Aug. 15-19 to explore all the opportunities that the world of engineering has to offer.

The workshop is run by the New York State Center for Engineering Design and Industrial Innovation (NYSCEDII), part of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University at Buffalo.

The workshop will introduce the engineering-design process to students, who will gain hands-on experience using engineering tools and a better understanding of the wide array of job opportunities in the field of engineering.

Students will be attending from 12 different high schools: Akron, Barker, Clarence, Holy Angels Academy, Lake Shore, Mt. Mercy, Mt. St. Mary, Nardin Academy, Orchard Park, Starpoint, Tapestry Charter and Williamsville North.

"Our focus is on educating the young women about the options that exist in the different fields of engineering, while at the same time providing engaging experiences that demonstrate how engineering can be an exciting field," says Ken English, who will oversee the workshop.

English is deputy director of NYSCEDII and an adjunct assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

This year's workshop will focus on transportation simulation and is funded in part by grants from the University Transportation Research Center - Region 2, Fisher-Price, Moog and Praxair. Students will work with simulations of the traffic on UB's North Campus, and will also use NYSCEDII's driving simulator to run vehicle dynamics experiments, exploring how a car interacts with the road.

The driving simulator consists of a "car" mounted on a six-degree-of-freedom motion base that realistically simulates the sensations of turning, braking and traveling up- or downhill. The cabin is outfitted with high-performance simulation controls, such as a steering wheel, accelerator, brake and clutch pedals, all of which combine to make the experience extremely authentic. While the platform is moving, four 10-by-8-foot display screens surround the car, simulating the world that the drivers are experiencing.

NYSCEDII was established in 2000 with support from the New York State Assembly and the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research to provide state-of-the-art techniques and expertise to help New York State industry become more competitive.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system that is its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.