EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 16, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will observe National Engineers Week Feb. 15 to 21 with school visits, an innovation challenge to determine who can build a better launcher and payload, and "Cangineering" sculptures at sites across Southern California.
"When we look at the economic issues our nation is currently facing, engineers and scientists will play a big role in leading us to recovery through innovative use of technology to solve our emerging challenges," said Frank Flores, vice president of engineering and programs for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector in El Segundo. "While other professions can contribute to 'slicing the pie' more accurately, engineering is the one profession that can make the pie larger."
National Engineers Week was established in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers to help ensure a diverse, well-educated engineering work force by increasing the understanding of, and interest in, engineering and technology careers among young students. It also raises public understanding and appreciation of engineers' contributions to society.
"Our planet's health, our quality of life and our security depend on our ability to tap into the imagination, innovation and expertise of engineers," said John Daegele, sector vice president of system engineering, integration and test for the company's Aerospace Systems sector. "Encouraging interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in our high school, middle school and even elementary students -- our engineers of tomorrow -- is one of the most important roles we count on from experienced engineers and scientists."
In Southern California, Northrop Grumman is supporting National Engineers Week at company locations in El Segundo, Palmdale, Rancho Bernardo and Redondo Beach.
* South Bay high school students will participate in the first-ever Innovation Challenge, "Making an Impact," from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Northrop Grumman's Space Park facility in Redondo Beach. They'll apply their math and science skills to a real-world engineering project by designing and building a launcher that is capable of sending a weighted projectile (payload) to a targeted area. The Innovation Challenge is inspired by the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), a spacecraft being built at Space Park. LCROSS will look for evidence of water on the moon by smashing into its surface after launching this year. * Northrop Grumman engineers will visit schools across the South Bay to tutor students in math and science and to make Career Day presentations. Others will design a compact, inexpensive device, model or display to demonstrate an engineering principle or concept like aerodynamics. The week's activities augment tutoring and mentoring programs conducted by employees throughout the year. * Teams of Northrop Grumman engineers will compete in "Cangineering" contests to determine who can build the most creative sculpture using cans of food starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13 at Space Park in Redondo Beach and Feb. 14 and 15 in El Segundo. The sculptures, some using thousands of cans, include depictions of the Advanced Black Hole Investigating Student Spacecraft and the Alien Life Detector, both developed by students and engineers. They'll be on display all week (Feb. 16-20) in Redondo Beach and El Segundo. Northrop Grumman will donate the food to a local food bank. * Students will test their physics skills at the Egg Drop Contest, held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Northrop Grumman's facility in El Segundo. Teams will build and showcase a device to drop an egg from a height of 40 feet. Judges will evaluate each entry based on design, survivability and precision. * MATHCOUNTS Competition -- Schools from across the South Bay will participate in this contest that challenges students to use their math skills. MATHCOUNTS takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Space Park in Redondo Beach.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.