In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama issued what amounts to a clarion call to America’s engineers: “In order for America to win the future, we need to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world,” said Obama.

If activities during National Engineering Week are any indication, Temple engineers are up to the challenge.

From Feb. 21-26, the College of Engineering held more than 20 events that offered students and faculty an opportunity to demonstrate how their field touches everyday life. Activities highlighted contributions to biomaterials, fuel cells, smart materials and solar energy, as well as innovations such as 3D imaging, augmented reality, porous concrete and solar cars.

“I feel like engineers are kind of responsible for a lot of things that most people take for granted, like roads, buildings,” said senior engineering student Thomas Gallen. “Pretty much engineers are behind everything to some extent … any object.”

In addition to its showcase of technology, Engineering Week offered students a chance to demonstrate their practical skills — by building bridges made of popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and paper, for example — and to test their technical knowledge in an academic bowl. In addition, undergraduate and graduate students presented their research during Friday’s poster competition.

The week’s keynote speaker was Dave Westerholm, director of the Office of Response and Restoration for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Westerholm’s office provided technical expertise during last year’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He discussed the challenges his office faced in trying to mitigate damage from the spill, and how they are using the lessons learned to plan for and prevent similar disasters.

Faculty from the departments of mechanical engineering, civil and environmental engineering and electrical and computer engineering worked with students and professional engineering organizations to plan and run the week of events.

"National Engineers Week is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the roles, responsibilities and contributions of engineers to our society, as we showcase the outstanding work of our students and faculty in the College of Engineering," said Temple Engineering Dean Keya Sadeghipour.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of National Engineers Week, which is held each year during the third week of February to honor George Washington’s birthday. America’s first president is also considered the nation's first engineer for his work in surveying, construction and water works and because he established the U.S. Army Engineer School.

-- Elizabeth DiPardo