College students and professionals who are interested in the STEM fields are in for a treat if they plan on attending the National Society of Black Engineers? (NSBE) annual convention taking place this year from March 25-29.
The organization, which seeks to increase the number of Black engineering professionals, will hold its annual convention in Anaheim, Calif., that week at the Anaheim Convention Center and neighboring facilities. This year marks the 41st year and is expected to draw more than 8,000 attendees.
“We view our Annual Convention as a time to show the world what excellence in engineering looks like,” says Karl W. Reid, Ed.D.? “As we continue to advance NSBE’s mission to increase the number of black engineers, we are also focusing on making engineering the career of choice for many more black children around the world. ?We are committed to reimagining our children’s futures.”
The following is a small sample of newsworthy events at NSBE’s 41st Annual Convention:
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??? ???? Silicon Corner: NSBE Hackathon and Cybersecurity Case Competition
??? ???? o?? NSBE computer programmers, graphic designers and others get competitive while working on team-based software projects during the NSBE Hackathon, powered by Google, Inc. and sponsored by ThoughtWorks.
??? ???? o?? NSBE computer engineers and scientists show their defensive skills during the Cybersecurity Case Competition, powered by EMC Corporation.?
??? ???? “To the Moon, Mars and Beyond,” NSBE Space Special Interest Group Workshop
??? ???? o?? The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) gather the talent of NSBE members to acquire knowledge and take on challenges in specific areas, from the environment to energy to public policy. In this session, the Space SIG presents its bold proposals for U.S. lunar, Martian and other explorations beyond the Earth.?
??? ???? Technical Research Exposition
??? ???? o?? The Technical Research Exposition showcases NSBE members’ skills in technical writing, theoretical research and oral presentation. The competition provides an opportunity for graduate students and technical professionals to present their research findings while encouraging undergraduate students to showcase their research and pursue graduate degrees.?
??? ???? APEX Career Fair and APEX College Fair
??? ???? o?? NSBE’s Academic Pyramid of Excellence (APEX) recognizes members who maintain grade-point averages of 3.0 or above. During the two-day Career Fair and College Fair events, the APEX members have hours of exclusive access to the more than 200 corporate, government, academic? and other recruiters exhibiting at the convention.?
??? ???? NSBE’s “Impact Ferguson” Campaign
??? ???? o?? Launched last fall, NSBE’s “Impact Ferguson” campaign raised funds to engage students in the Ferguson, Mo., area in STEM educational activities and to bring 21 of the students to the positive, possibly life-changing experience of the NSBE Annual Convention.??
??? ???? Workshop – Urban Revitalization: How Volunteering Can Influence the Entrepreneur in You
??? ???? o?? “Positively impact the community” is one of the core components of NSBE’s mission. In this session, NSBE entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs learn how to achieve this end while building a successful business.?
??? ???? Workshop – Saving Our Cities: Green Projects to the Rescue
??? ???? o?? NSBE’s Environmental Engineering Special Interest Group demonstrates the importance of environmental awareness and environmental protection to the well-being of urban communities.?
??? ???? 18th Annual NSBE Golden Torch Awards
??? ???? o?? Individuals and organizations, 21 in all, will receive NSBE’s top honors during this black-tie event sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corporation and emceed by actor Laz Alonso. Among the honorees are Retired U.S. Air Force Capt. Ed Dwight, now a successful artist, who was the first African-American to undergo astronaut training, and Julian Earls, Ph.D., retired director of NASA Glenn Research Center.
