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Launch Bottle Rockets This Week, UCF Engineering Style (video)

By: UCF Admin | February 17, 2014

Launch bottle rockets, play giant Jenga, enjoy watching Rube Goldberg multi-step machines that zip-up zippers, and scarf down some free pancakes this week on the UCF main campus.

The UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) invites everyone to celebrate Engineers Week, Feb. 16-22, featuring a variety of entertaining, visual events planned by CECS student groups to showcase the fact that just about every modern convenience is possible because of engineers.

Wednesday will feature the CECS Engineers’ Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the Harris Engineering Center front lawn. The fair will include a variety of interactive games, activities and displays, including including a makeshift “tractor pull” using vehicles from the Society of Automotive Engineers; and bottle rocket launches by Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). Snacks, sodas and giveaways also will be available at no cost.

Don’t know what a bottle rocket is? This video by the Orlando Business Journal will show you step-by-step how the mini rockets were launched at UCF last year. “They Blinded Me With Science” —

If community service is your thing, stop by the Engineering II Atrium Thursday, 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. to build structures with cans of food that will be donated to a local food bank afterward.

On Friday, the Rube Goldberg competition (6-8 p.m., Engineering II Atrium) is expected to be entertaining. Each competing team is required to build a minimum 20-step machine that ultimately zips a zipper.

Engineers Week is recognized nationally by the National Engineers Week Foundation and celebrates the positive contributions engineers make to society. The week is a catalyst for outreach across the country to children and adults alike. Engineers Week is part of many corporate and government cultures and is celebrated on every U.S. engineering college campus.

You don’t have to be an engineer to enjoy the fun. All public events will be held on UCF’s main campus with free admission.

See the schedule of Engineers Week events below, and the organizing student club:

Daily, Feb. 17-21

Breakfast by the Bridge
8-11 a.m., Engineering II Atrium
Free pancakes.
American Society of Civil Engineers

Monday, Feb. 17

CECS Club Showcase
11 a.m.-1 p.m., Engineering II Atrium
Showcase of CECS student clubs with info and giveaways.
American Society for Engineering Education

Tower Build Competition
2 p.m. — 3 p.m., Engineering II Atrium
Students will compete in building towers using only household items such as pasta, paper towel rolls, etc.
American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics

Tuesday, Feb. 18
The Garden that Grew from Concrete
6:30-9 p.m., Harris Engineering Center, 101
A forum addressing the underrepresented demographic in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
National Society of Black Engineers

Wednesday, Feb. 19

CECS Engineers’ Fair – FEATURED EVENT
11 a.m.-1 p.m., Harris Engineering Center lawn
Bottle rockets, giant Jenga, steel bridge, concrete canoe, snacks, sodas, etc.

UCF Amazing Race
6:30-8:30 p.m., Engineering II Atrium
A challenge to use your brain or go insane.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

Thursday, Feb. 20

Building Towards a Better World
10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Engineering II Atrium
Build structures with cans of food to be donated to a local food bank afterwards. Structures will be judged based on teamwork and creativity.
Engineering Leadership & Innovation Institute (eli²)

CECS Alum/Student Networking Knight
6-8 p.m., FAIRWINDS Alumni Center
Networking plus alumni panel discussion, followed by dessert reception.
CECS Alumni Chapter

Friday, Feb. 21

Launch Water Bottle Rockets
10 a.m.- 4 p.m., UCF Memory Mall
Build and launch your own bottle rockets.
Students for the Exploration & Development of Space

Hovercraft Race
11 a.m.-1 p.m., Harris Engineering Center lawn
Race hovercrafts against other students.
American Institute for Aeronautics & Astronautics

Rube Goldberg Competition
6-8 p.m., Engineering II Atrium
All teams are required to build a 20-step machine that will zip a zipper.
Theta Tau

SWE E-Week Formal
7-11 p.m., FAIRWINDS Alumni Center
Food, dancing, drinks and formalwear.
Society of Women Engineers

Saturday, Feb. 22

E-Cup
Noon-4 p.m., Lake Claire
Fun, competitive day showing off athletic skills. Various sports will be played.
Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers

Launch Water Bottle Rockets
10 a.m.- 4 p.m., UCF Memory Mall
Build and launch your own bottle rockets.
Students for the Exploration & Development of Space

— CECS —