On Saturday, March 4, students and families had the opportunity to experience a free showing of Dream Big: Engineering Our World at the Ellen Theatre in downtown Bozeman as part of the Bozeman Film Society Science on Screen Film Series. The film showcases the creativity, commitment and compassion of four engineers through an exploration of amazing engineering accomplishments around the world. Dr. Michael Berry, Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering Department and KLJ Engineer Shari Eslinger, Vice-President of the Montana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers introduced the film by sharing their personal stories of becoming engineers. After the film, MSU Engineering students led fun, hands-on projects for kids, such as building domes out of marshmallows and toothpicks. The MSU robot that competed in the NASA Robotic Mining Competition also made an appearance!
The film screening in Bozeman was a community initiative, co-sponsored and co-organized by the Bozeman Film Society Science on Screen program, the Montana section of ASCE, KLJ Engineering, WTI, West Region Transportation Workforce Center, MSU Extended University, and the Montana Girls STEM Collaborative. The MSU units involved offer pre-college science and engineering outreach programs that introduce students to potential careers in these fields. “Many students have never considered engineering as a career only because they have no idea of the vast array of opportunities that engineering encompasses,” said WTI Education and Workforce Program Manager Susan Gallagher. “Events like these can open their ideas to a new world of exciting possibilities and we were thrilled to be a part of this collaborative effort.”