ASME lauded for updating Boy Scouts' Engineering Merit Badge Guide

In recognition of its role in helping to revise the Boy Scouts of America's Engineering Merit Badge Guide, ASME was elected to the 2001 Association Advance America Honor Roll, a national awards competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives.

ASAE's Advance America Awards program recognizes associations that propel America forward with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards setting, business and social innovation, knowledge-based activities, citizenship and community service.

The new Boy Scouts Merit Badge Guide, a 96-page booklet, replaces a 40-page version from 1978 that predated personal computers Ñ never mind the Internet Ñ and the modern-day space program. The revised book presents a broader view of the engineering profession, including vignettes about engineering achievements, expanded sections on basic engineering concepts, more hands-on activities, and illustrations of the diversity and interdisciplinary nature of engineering today.

Most of the work for the revision, which took approximately three years to complete, was done by the Boy Scouts Task Force of the Board on Pre-College Education. The members who served on the task force included Mahesh Aggarwal, Milt Buffington, Bob Gill, Tim Lan-cey, Willard Nott and John Wesner. According to Nott, vice president of ASME's Board on Pre-College Education, the ASME group rewrote and expanded the text, which was then edited and produced by the Boy Scouts of America.

ASME members are also being encouraged to volunteer as Engineering Merit Badge counselors, helping more than 1,800 Boy Scouts each year learn about careers in engineering as they explore fun, hands-on activities that promote technological literacy.

David L. Belden, ASME's executive director, said, "We hope that the revised Engineering Merit Badge Guide will inspire thousands of young people to learn about the contributions of engineering and to pursue careers in this rewarding profession."

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