New award recognizes effective methods of engineering education

With the demand for mechanical engineers growing, a new award has been created to honor the efforts of the men and women who are advancing the fields of engineering and technology by creating novel methods — or reinvigorating older, established methods — to motivate and instruct the next generation of practicing engineers.

The intent of the Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education — which carries a $500,000 cash award — is to reward innovative curriculum designs and teaching and learning methods in engineering and technology education that have been demonstrated to be effective, with an emphasis on enhancing leadership skills in the hope that the growing gap between what is needed in industry and what is being taught in the schools will be diminished.

The Gordon Prize is unique because it aspires to influence the fundamental approach to U.S. engineering and technology and rewards innovation in the classroom.

One-half of the prize money will go to the individual or individuals who develop the innovative curricular designs and teaching and learning methods that demonstrate impact, with an emphasis on enhancing students' leadership skills; the other half is directed toward further implementation of the educational program itself, and the possible expansion of the program to other academic institutions.

Awarded biennially, the first prize will be presented in February 2002.

The postmark deadline to submit nominations is June 15. To download a copy of the nomination form or for more information about the prize, visit www.nae.edu or call (202) 334-1628.

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