Articles

2011 ASCE Discover Construction

By: Alison Smith, P.E., Education Chair

In honor of the construction of the Perot Museum of Nature & Science Expansion Project, the Museum of Nature & Science celebrated with a weekend all about building! On August 13^th and 14^th, the ASCE Dallas Branch presented a booth at the Museum for kids to test their construction skills and build a gumdrop dome. With the Dallas summer heating up, the Museum set a record attendance with 3,600 people at the event. The volunteers had their hands full teaching kids how to build geodesic (triangular-sided) domes with gumdrops and toothpicks! 

Here’s what some of our volunteers had to say:

“It was great to see so many kids and parents come out and get excited about construction during summer vacation!” – Matt Ludwig, EIT

“It was amazing to watch how even the youngest of children were interested in building a dome and with only a little help they were able to create the structure perfectly!  What was really rewarding was to see them finish and then ask if they could take an additional gum drop because they didn’t want to destroy what they just built.” – Jennifer Evans, EIT

“It is so much fun to talk with the kids that come by, and educate them (and their parents) about our profession.  It is also rewarding to see that spark of interest as they work their way through the task at hand.” – Kristin Green, PE

Thanks to the hard work of the Dallas Branch volunteers during Discover Construction and National Engineers Week this year, the Dallas Branch has been invited back for next year’s activities.  The ASCE Dallas Branch was complimented by the Museum coordinator, volunteers and the kids and parents on their involvement. Thank you to all the volunteers that made this such a successful event for ASCE!   

For photos visit here.