Engineering and Science Community Comes Together to Inspire the Next Generation

The 2012 Pasadena Engineering and Science Expo will celebrate the Engineering and Science community, bringing together local innovators to inspire the next generation in a day of interactive engineering and science fun. Presented by the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) and hosted by Pasadena City College (PCC), the Expo will feature the Innovation and Opportunities Fair and will culminate in the Third Annual Middle School Robotics Competition of the Pasadena Unified School District. The free event, open to the general public, takes place Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pasadena City College.

“The Expo will provide an exciting day of demonstrations and hands-on workshops and a glimpse of state-of-the-art technology being invented in our own neighborhood” says Erik Dreyer, Director of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Programs for the Pasadena Educational Foundation. PEF supports the PUSD Robotics Program, offered in every middle school. “Inspiration is the name of the game,” says Dreyer, “If we succeed at inspiring the next generation, we turn them into their own lifelong self advocates.”

Innovations and Opportunities Fair: The Fair will showcase innovations from the engineering and science community, educational opportunities for students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and hands-on workshops. Companies presenting include Idealab, Honeybee Robotics, and The Hybrid Group, among many others, and CODA Automotive will bring their new all-electric vehicle to show Expo attendees. Educational opportunities from kindergarten through college will be presented, including the PCC STEM departments and PUSD College and Career Pathways. Workshops offered all day and for all ages will include Ruby and Javascript programming, robotics, electronic circuits, and others. No experience necessary for workshop participation. The Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the W Building of PCC and is open to the public.

PUSD Middle School Robotics Competition: Hundreds of robotics students from all seven PUSD middle schools will compete against each other as they race to build and program their LEGO Mindstorms Robots to solve challenges in limited time. The competition takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Hutto-Patterson Gym of PCC and is open for public viewing.

For more information, call (626) 396-3600 ext. 78602 or visit www.stemx.org or contact Erik Dreyer, Director of STEM Programs, at (626) 344-9414.