The University of Texas at Dallas

Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

Content

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at
The University of Texas at Dallas presents
“EXPLORE ENGINEERING DAY 2018,”
as part of the annual National Engineers Week

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. When is the event?

    This is a come-and-go event from 10:00am – 2:00pm on Saturday, February 17, 2018. Historically, lines can be quite long at 10:00am and tend to thin as the day goes on. Note that you can arrive at any time. Allocating 2 hours for the event should allow you ample time to engage in most activities that interest you.

  2. What does it cost?

    This is a FREE event! We require pre-registration online so that we can gauge interest and supplies; however, walk-ups are allowed. UPDATE: Due to an overwhelming response rate for the 2018 event (3,500+!), we have closed pre-registration and due to fire code capacity will NOT be allowing walk-ups.

  3. Who should attend?

    “Explore Engineering Day” is an event for the whole family! All ages are welcome to attend.

  4. What types of activities will there be?
    1. Hands-On Activity Stations, grouped in the following color-coded topics: Sustainability, Health, Tools and Technology, Safety and Security.
    2. Onsite Workshops: A LIMITED number of seats are available for workshops via sign-up onsite – first-come, first-serve basis. Topics/activities include computer coding for video games, how to engineer a race car from a mouse trap, build a drone, assemble a pulse finger oximeter, and create a glider from balsa wood! NOTE that a guardian/chaperone will need to stay with minor(s) the whole time they are on UTD campus – including IN the room during these workshops. Please plan accordingly as there can be no exceptions.
    3. Tech Talks, 15-20 minutes each: Older youth will enjoy hearing UTD faculty members and local company representatives give presentations and demonstrations about their programs, products, projects, research and professions. UTD faculty members will speak about their research and new discoveries in their field and provide information about major courses and career options.
  5. Where will the event be held?

    The event will be held on the main campus of the University of Texas at Dallas, located at 800 W. Campbell Rd, Richardson Texas. PreK-5th grade activities are located at Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center (DGAC) and activities for grades 6th-12th are located at Edith O’Donnell Arts & Technology Building (ATEC) – however the MAIN registration check-in is in the Alumni Center. There you can also pick up printed programs to help guide you through the event activities.

  6. Where do I park?

    Due to other campus activities, we request that all attendees to Engineering Day 2018 park in surface lots A and B only (see UTD map, northeast side of campus). You do not need a parking pass to park in these two parking lots on Saturday, February 17th – but if you park elsewhere on campus, you could be ticketed. We will have golf cart shuttle service between those lots and the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center from 9:30am – 2:00pm.

  7. Are there places to eat lunch?
    1. These food trucks will be parked near the ATEC building for the duration of our event: EggStand (hamburgers/sandwiches), Fast & Furious (Korean/Japanese Fusion), and Chile Pepper Grill (Authentic Mexican).
    2. The Food Court located in the Student Union (“SU” on UTD map) includes the following restaurants that will be open from 10:30am-4:00pm on Saturday, Feb-17: Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, and Starbucks.
    3. As an alternative, you are welcome to bring your own food to campus or enjoy one of the restaurants nearby off-campus.
  8. Can Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts earn a patch?

    Participation patches will be handing out to youth on a first-come, first-served basis. Scouts may also fulfill specific requirements for skill-building badges through participating. For more information, please consult your local scouting councils and organization specific websites (such as https://www.scouting.org/stem/Awards.aspx for Boy Scouts and http://www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/girl-scouts-and-stem.html for Girl Scouts.

  9. Why does UT Dallas host this event?

    The purpose of National Engineers Week is to call attention to the contributions to society that engineers make. It is also a time for engineers to emphasize the importance of learning math, science, and technical skills. National Engineers Week is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers.

    National Engineers Week promotes recognition among parents, teachers and students of the importance of a technical education and a high level of math, science and technology literacy. The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science opens its doors to the community to explore how engineering and computer science creates innovation and invites discovery.