31 August 2011- As part of the IEEE Electron Devices Society (EDS) strategy to rejuvenate chapter activities in the United States and the rest of the world, the newly created Engineers Demonstrating Science – an Engineer Teacher Connection (IEEE EDS-ETC) program has recently launched. The goal of the program is to enable chapter members to visit local schools or host events designed to engage young students in the field of electrical engineering. By utilizing easy-to-use Elenco Snap Circuits kits, students learn about electronic circuits using a “hands-on” approach to experiencing the exciting and creative field of electronics. The Society hopes EDS-ETC will encourage students to consider electrical and electronic engineering as a career.

The program, led by IEEE EDS volunteer Fernando Guarin, was designed with help from the Rochester, Boise and the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapters. These dedicated volunteers are working with local science teachers ranging from the 4th through 12th grade levels to run initial evaluations. In the first phase of the project, IEEE EDS plans to make this offering available to its chapters in the United States. Based on this experience, the Society will extend the program to EDS chapters around the globe. In anticipation, the Society recruited the Colombia Chapter to run a pilot program in Bogota, Columbia with the participation of two major universities partnering with local schools.