February 18, 2010
February 18, 2010
Program aligns education with 21st century workforce needs, professional development
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today congratulated the Michigan high school teams that participated in the Real World Design Challenge (RWDC), a competition that enhances science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in Michigan with the goal of training tomorrow's engineers, especially in the aerospace industry.
The governor also announced that Team B-16 SWAT from Warren Consolidated Schools - Career Prep Center will go on to compete in a national challenge held in Washington, D.C. for an opportunity to have their design used by the aviation industry.
"Education is the key to economic success," Granholm said. "By inspiring students through programs like the Real World Design Challenge, we can help students get hands-on experience in fields like science, technology, engineering and mathematics to aid in developing critical skills necessary for high-demand jobs."
At the beginning of the school year, participating schools from across the state established teams of three to seven students and worked diligently to design aircraft that maximize fuel efficiency. The winning team attends the Real World Design Challenge national contest hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. in March 2010. Michigan's top team will compete with other state champions from across the nation for prizes, awards, and recognition from leaders in government, industry, and higher education.
"Through the Challenge, all Michigan students will have access to the best resources to make Michigan's future workforce more globally competitive," said Dr. Ralph K. Coppola, director of the Real World Design Challenge and director of Global Government & Strategic Education Programs at Parametric Technology Corporation.
"The aviation component of this challenge is particularly appropriate as we encourage innovation among teachers and interest among students in order to address a shortage of engineers in the aviation industry," said Federal Aviation Association (FAA) Great Lakes Regional Administrator Barry Cooper. "This program supports the FAA's broader mission of educating and training the next generation of workforce professionals to ensure the National Aerospace System remains the safest, most efficient system in the world."
The program provides Michigan teachers and students free access to some of the world's most advanced mechanical engineering and design software. The challenge strengthens professional development for teachers through training and industry collaboration. Mentors from National Laboratories, the FAA, industry, and higher education provide support using a Web-based global engineering backbone.
The Real World Design Challenge is a partnership among the state of Michigan, NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S Department of Energy, FAA Parametric Technology Corporation, Cessna and others.
The aerospace industry faces a significant shortage of engineers. Between 60,000 and 68,000 engineers in the U.S. aerospace industry will retire by 2010, and only half of those will be replaced. With modest growth in the U.S. aerospace industry, there will be a shortage of 40,000 to 85,000 engineers by 2010. Many other industries in science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas face similar workforce shortfalls.
For more information on the Real World Design Challenge, contact Michigan's Real World Design Challenge state coordinator Dr. Patricia Talbott at 517-335-0359 or TalbottP@michigan.gov The RWDC Website is: www.realworlddesignchallenge.org
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