TOP STORIES

 FUTURE CAREERS  We have a NEW contest called FUTURE CAREERS, and we will have a middle school category and a high school category.  It is a spinoff of the Future City Competition and will start after the completion of the Future City International Finals, which are presently underway.  Obviously, teams can start as soon as they have the criteria, which is here.  In fact, EDUCATORS can register here:  https://forms.gle/LasmNpR4H9Q556Mt6   The winning city from the previous year becomes the setting for a video the students are being asked to make for this competition.  So, for this year, the city is New Venice (2173), which is Venice in 150 years.  Students need to make a video maximum 7 minutes long that satisfies this criteria:  1) How the nature of the work has changed over the previous 150 years must be explained, whether that means that is different as a result of technological advances, the changing nature of the world or the environment, or even that this career never used to exist and now has become either possible or needed. 2) The actual nature of the daily work must be explained, including the responsibilities and the inter-relationships with others in the community or beyond. Whether this is described in the form of a summary of a typical workday or in some other creative manner, there should be detail of the actual work done, the tools and technology involved and the role this work plays in the community or beyond. 3) The video must discuss the training/formal education/skills needed to perform this work.  Stronger videos should capture this development as a continuing process, as education and skills development always continue. 4) The challenges of the work need to be depicted in the video.  These can be of any nature, whether they are related to the surroundings, the pressures, the physicality of the work, the need for strong analytical skills, etc. 5) The favorite aspects of the work need to be described.  Each category above is scored on a scale of 0 to 4.  A zero indicates the criteria has no mention.  A 4 does a stellar job, not only delving into the imagination but equally tying in concepts that while not maybe presently achievable with current technology, are convincing as potential future technologies. Equally, a “4” score would show a clear understanding of the nature of the work, whether that be by displaying understanding of the work as it exists today and indicating how the 150 years of time would alter that, or describing the work from scratch.  Remember, this city is one of great culture but prone to severe flood issues today, let alone 150 years from now, and all the issues that arise from that setting need to be considered.  Aside from the above categories related to the materials, there are 5 other points that will be given for the quality of the presentation.  We leave the format wide open: it can be anything from a recorded zoom call to an animation to a PowerPoint presentation to a live action film.  Even that can be left to the imagination.  In this, the imagination is everything.  No points will be given for special effects or costly production.  A “5 point “ video will make complete sense, have a flow to it, be both informative and entertaining, and be well rehearsed.  In the end, scores will be from 1-25.  There will be no Q&A sessions.  How we share videos and score a “winner” will depend on participation, but it will be virtual.    

33rd  ANNUAL BSCES MODEL BRIDGE COMPETITION. This year the materials were brown kraft paper, natural rubber self-adhesive tape, and uncoated corrugated cardboard sheets. 

The models were tested both in person and hybrid. Some by visiting each school/program and recording the loading sessions, and the majority live at Watson Hall at Wentworth Institute of Technology. 

 For grades 5-12...  What a great competition!

Our TOP 3 for EFFICIENCY:

1. Catholic Memorial (125#, 89.8 efficiency)

2. Boston Latin School (120#, 86.8 efficiency)

3. Watertown High (90#, 75.9 efficiency)

Our TOP 3 for AESTHETICS:

1. St. Paul Choir School

2. Boston Latin School

3. Catholic Memorial

The video from the 2024 competition on Feb 3rd is here:

https://video.ibm.com/recorded/133334467

2024 Rules: 

https://engineeryourfuture.org/downloadables

Registration is presently closed for the year, but still reach out if you are interested in next year or want to do your own thing this year!

Also, we are ALWAYS looking for volunteers.  

 FUTURE CAREERS  We have a NEW contest called FUTURE CAREERS, and we will have a middle school category and a high school category.  It is a spinoff of the Future City Competition and will start after the completion of the Future City International Finals, which are presently underway.  Obviously, teams can start as soon as they have the criteria, which is here.  In fact, EDUCATORS can register here:  https://forms.gle/LasmNpR4H9Q556Mt6   The winning city from the previous year becomes the setting for a video the students are being asked to make for this competition.  So, for this year, the city is New Venice (2173), which is Venice in 150 years.  Students need to make a video maximum 7 minutes long that satisfies this criteria:  1) How the nature of the work has changed over the previous 150 years must be explained, whether that means that is different as a result of technological advances, the changing nature of the world or the environment, or even that this career never used to exist and now has become either possible or needed. 2) The actual nature of the daily work must be explained, including the responsibilities and the inter-relationships with others in the community or beyond. Whether this is described in the form of a summary of a typical workday or in some other creative manner, there should be detail of the actual work done, the tools and technology involved and the role this work plays in the community or beyond. 3) The video must discuss the training/formal education/skills needed to perform this work.  Stronger videos should capture this development as a continuing process, as education and skills development always continue. 4) The challenges of the work need to be depicted in the video.  These can be of any nature, whether they are related to the surroundings, the pressures, the physicality of the work, the need for strong analytical skills, etc. 5) The favorite aspects of the work need to be described.  Each category above is scored on a scale of 0 to 4.  A zero indicates the criteria has no mention.  A 4 does a stellar job, not only delving into the imagination but equally tying in concepts that while not maybe presently achievable with current technology, are convincing as potential future technologies. Equally, a “4” score would show a clear understanding of the nature of the work, whether that be by displaying understanding of the work as it exists today and indicating how the 150 years of time would alter that, or describing the work from scratch.  Remember, this city is one of great culture but prone to severe flood issues today, let alone 150 years from now, and all the issues that arise from that setting need to be considered.  Aside from the above categories related to the materials, there are 5 other points that will be given for the quality of the presentation.  We leave the format wide open: it can be anything from a recorded zoom call to an animation to a PowerPoint presentation to a live action film.  Even that can be left to the imagination.  In this, the imagination is everything.  No points will be given for special effects or costly production.  A “5 point “ video will make complete sense, have a flow to it, be both informative and entertaining, and be well rehearsed.  In the end, scores will be from 1-25.  There will be no Q&A sessions.  How we share videos and score a “winner” will depend on participation, but it will be virtual.    

This year's theme was "The Global Climate Challenge" and the teams all took it to heart and spent the time to brainstorm what we can do to make this world a better place!

The competition was Saturday January 24th, 2023, at One Federal Street in Boston.  Here are our top teams:

3rd Place:   Solaria (Cooperative)

2nd Place:  Perkons (Derby)

1st Place: New Beginnings: Lima Peru

Many Special Awards were also given to deserving teams, as follows:

Most Innovative Concept – Jakarta – JFK Middle School

Most Inclusive Community – Masconomet

Best Public Recreation Spaces – Sun City (Cooperative)

Best Waste Management – Haiti (WMA)

Public Safety Award – Provincetown He Cheng

Most Innovative Use of a Recycled Material – Kampala (Derby)

Best Craftsmanship – New York (WMA)

Best Healthcare System – Provincetown He Cheng

Best Architecture – Last Hope (Derby)

Best Moving Part – Haiti

Best Land Surveying Practices – Last Hope (Derby)

Best Project Planning – Kampala (Derby)

Most Futuristic – Solaria

Best Water Management System – New Beginnings: Lima Peru (Derby)

Best Food Supply – Perkons (Derby)

Best Transportation System -  New Beginnings: Lima Peru (Derby)

Best Energy Systems – Solaria (Cooperative)

Climate Change Challenge Award - Perkons (Derby)

Best Presentation – Solaria (Cooperative)

Best Model - New Beginnings: Lima Peru (Derby)

Best Education System - WMA Miami Titans

People’s Choice – Provincetown New Paris

Here is a link to photos from the competition:

PHOTOS

(only shared with educators in the competition)

Through the BSCES Public Awareness and Outreach Committee, the BSCES just had our FUTURE CITY COMPETITION, OUR MODEL BRIDGE CONTEST, and now we are starting up our next adventure, FUTURE CAREERS.  To get involved and to learn more, visit WWW.ENGINEERYOURFUTURE.ORG or contact committee chair Reed Brockman reed.brockman@aecom.com    

23rd ANNUAL NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL FUTURE CITY COMPETITION This year, middle school students were challenged with creating cities 150 years in the future that have clearly designed methods of assuring that they are ZERO WASTE COMMUNITIES.  For all sorts of resources and a better understanding of this, visit www.engineeryourfuture.org.  

This year, the competition was held online using numerous Microsoft Teams meeting rooms. We had over 50 teams participating, and in the end, 11 competed in the NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL FINALS. Congratulations to all teams that participated in the 2022 Future City Competition.  All teams did a truly wonderful job, and all were worthy of going on to the International finals.   

We now have our final special award winner selected: THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD!  Thank you to all who voted.  By popular vote, VENICE won THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD.  

Venice is representing New England at the International Finals, which also are virtual this year.  We are leaving the work by each team available for all to see.  Here is everything:  

PRESENTATIONS 

Team Submission 

The Sunshine State: South Beach Salvage! (JFK MIDDLE) https://youtu.be/NLZnXwd-cx0  

Golden State: No Time to WASTE! (JFK MIDDLE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4OpIk-opdc  

Graen-Borg (CURIOUS SCIENCE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIiv75wLROI  

New Kanpur (WILBRAHAM-MONSON ACADEMY) https://youtu.be/W1uXUx11cTc  

WMA Crystal City (WILBRAHAM-MONSON ACADEMY) https://youtu.be/p4DBWImXYkw  

New Age Delhi (WILBRAHAM-MONSON ACADEMY) https://youtu.be/H5xKfBn_7N8  

Jeremie City (DERBY ACADEMY) https://youtu.be/KH_ViRxZj3Q  

Oeconomia Circulares The City of Peace (DERBY ACADEMY) https://youtu.be/M4-sYj1J_Bc  

Spiricual City (DERBY ACADEMY) https://youtu.be/S5uzmt4-a08  

Venice (GOOSE & HEN FARM HOMESCHOOL COLLABORATIVE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSsV0O8dIkM  

Dalisay (MASCONOMET MIDDLE) https://youtu.be/VSmILQicAnk  

ALL Models:               https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2x2i2uqk9l3lpki/AABea2osNBYDOiNVfkO7cM2xa?dl=0  

ALL Essays:              https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rl16xm6bfcc1nh8/AACqkPlb8nzEoDU2-aEmFB-Va?dl=0  

Moving Parts:   Team Moving Part Video 

The Sunshine State: South Beach Salvage! https://youtu.be/ZfewEQx3_p4  

Golden State: No Time to WASTE! https://youtu.be/wlD477mIqts Graen-Borg NONE RECEIVED 

New Kanpur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDr1i2YPJI8  

WMA Crystal City https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi9Frder8G0  

New Age Delhi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnm7npONbnA  

Derby Team 2 / Jeremie City https://youtu.be/FvJbAUV93Io  

Derby Team 3 / Oeconomia Circulares The City of Peace https://youtu.be/WEnEaj6ZdQY  

Derby Team 9 / Spiricual City https://youtu.be/aNSp5W2RtbM  

Venice https://youtu.be/Qcjf_wlKQzI  

Dalisay https://youtu.be/8H4WXg0Di8Q    

Here are lists of special awards recipients, regional finalists and prize winners during the announcements between finals presentations:

  FINALISTS’ SCORES

1 Venice 196

2   Oeconomia Circulares The City of Peace 173

3   The Sunshine State: South Beach Salvage! 167

ANNUAL BSCES MODEL BRIDGE COMPETITION This year, the materials were 36” long bamboo dowels and 4# test jute twine.   Here is a link to the pdf version of the RULES/SPECIFICATIONS: https://www.dropbox.com/s/45bmrcsd86dwt7p/2022%20BSCES%20Model%20Bridge%20Specifications.pdf?dl=0  Over 50 teams registered and in the end 18 participated in the competition.  The models were tested the last week of January by visiting each school/program and recording the loading sessions.  We had a bunch of teams that because of the present world conditions, there was not time and want to do something later in the year.  One problem that a teacher stated was that the students had trouble lashing the bamboo together, so we made this video with my friend Dan.  If anyone wants to build bamboo and twine structures, it’s must-watch TV!   https://youtu.be/Sgkb4TRiGzY  Congratulations to everybody that competed in the MODEL BRIDGE!  You all did a beautiful job.     THE LINK TO WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE COMPETITION IS HERE:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY4qzeu8aYE&list=PLIc1ecU2vkEHAdQKZbW7QW2URCqpncILC&index=4&ab_channel=EngineerYourFuture  Here are the results:       Trophies, certificates and t-shirts will be sent soon.   Also checks: in each category, each team member will get $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd and $50 for 3rd.  I look forward to seeing you next year, and for those that are seniors, you can always come back and help run the contest!  The test model this year was made by Ivan Kadurov, now an architecture student at Wentworth Institute of Technology (the host of our competition in a “normal” year).  Thank you to all our sponsors, and to our judges longtime volunteers/coordinators Irene Barsky, MassDOT’s Alyson Bedard and Alexander Bardow, BSCES President Shallan Fitzgerald and  the MBTA’s Terry McCarthy.  

 THANK YOU SPONSORS!                  2021–2022 BSCES Program Sponsors Alfred Benesch & Company | BETA Group | BSC Group | CDM Smith Collins Engineers, Inc. | Dewberry | Green International Affiliates, Inc. GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. | Haley & Aldrich, Inc. | Horsley Witten Group, Inc. | Howard Stein Hudson Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc. | HNTB | Kleinfelder | Nitsch Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University | Patrick Engineering, Inc. Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc. | Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. | Skanska USA Civil | Tighe & Bond  TranSystems | TREVIICOS | Tufts University - Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering | VHB | Weston & Sampson | WSP USA, Inc.  BSCES would like to thank the following 2021-2022 STEM Outreach Sponsors for their support: Ames & Gough CAPTRUST Euclid Chemical McNamara-Salvia Structural Engineers Webster Bank   

Presently pulling together a resource page to better inform people how to react if we have a natural disaster in Massachusetts.

Also creating activity celebrating the MBTA, the nation's oldest subway system, which is an official ASCE historic landmark.  It's a cut and cover tunnel activity involving a box and breakfast cereal.

The FUTURE CAREERS high school continuation for Future City is also deep in development.