Outreach
Inspiring K-12 Students to Consider Civil and Architectural Engineering
Civil and architectural engineering is all around us, from roads and bridges, to dams and water systems, to earthquake-resistant buildings and sustainable infrastructure.
Jobs in the industry are projected to grow almost 20% by 2022. So UA CAEM strives to inspire elementary, middle school and high school students to become the next civil and architectural engineers.
Classroom Activities
CAEM has put together a list of grade-specific games, activities and experiments to teach kids about civil engineering. The materials explore five major areas of civil engineering:
- Structural engineering and construction
- Hydraulic engineering, hydrology and water resources
- Geotechnical engineering
- Transportation
- Environmental engineering
Download detailed descriptions and links to activities:
Aqualibrium Arizona
Established as part of the UA Engineering 102 High School program, and in coordination with the South African Institute for Civil Engineering and the NASA Space Grant Consortium, Aqualibrium Arizona is a fun way for students to learn about their local water supplies, the roles civil engineers play in providing safe water to their communities, and the importance of protecting water resources.
The learning experience – which also has been incorporated as part of the UA Summer Engineering Academy and other programs – exposes students to regional water supply issues and promotes the importance of Arizona residents using water responsibly. Students learn key concepts in physics and mathematics as applied to water and infrastructure uses in their home communities
The program leads up to an Aqualibrium Water Competition in which students build pipe networks between water sources and containers placed randomly on a 16-point grid. The aim is to distribute three liters of water equally between three containers.
Southern Arizona Construction Career Days
Each fall, the students in CAEM volunteer at Southern Arizona Construction Career Days, sponsored by local construction companies, engineering consultants and public agencies. This event is an outreach to middle and high school students designed to expose them to careers in the construction industry.