Nearly 400 Capital Region elementary and middle school students will gather on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday, February 9, to learn how a career in engineering can help them change the world. 

At Exploring Engineering Day, young students in third through sixth grade will have the opportunity to learn from, and be inspired by, accomplished Rensselaer students. They will learn the importance of brainstorming, designing, building, testing, and working as a team through hands-on activities.

The event is organized by Director for Diversity and Women in Engineering Programs Barbara Ruel, as well as by the Society of Women Engineers at Rensselaer, and student volunteers from engineering and computer science clubs and organizations. 

In the spirit of The New Polytechnic, the driving model for education and research at the university, Rensselaer is dedicated to developing a strong and diverse future generation of engineers. Nearly half of the students who registered for Exploring Engineering Day are female and nearly 30 percent are from underrepresented groups.

As children are learning, parents will have an opportunity to hear from Rensselaer faculty about cutting-edge research that is solving some of the world’s greatest challenges. Exploring Engineering Day is funded by Regeneron, SABIC, Northrop Grumman, GlobalFoundries, and a grant from the national Society of Women Engineers. 

Reporters and photographers are welcome to come and interview Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute student organizers and capture images of the hands-on sessions. Morning sessions will be held on Saturday, February 9, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Afternoon sessions will run from 2 p.m. until 4:15 p.m. Members of the press can park in the garage located at 91 College Avenue, then go to the Darrin Communications Great Hall.