Kids Learn Math and Science can be Fun at Raytheon Engineer's Week Event

Company hosts leading event in southland to get kids thinking about a career in math and science

By Jeremy Singer, Los Angeles Times February 19, 2008

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems Company hosted what turned out to be a day of education and surprises at the El Segundo facility this past Monday. What could have been more fun than to watch video games, see firsthand a NASCAR driver and learn about how lasers work. This was part of the National Engineers Week Foundation events happening around the southland. More than 250 Los Angeles and South Bay area middle school students and their teachers participated in MathMovesU Day events with several activities that featured guests demonstrating how math and science are used in their careers.

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This is the third year the company has hosted this event and each year the program focuses on math and science education and the importance of staying is school. Also at the site according to Raytheon executives, was the Traveling Space Museum, where students had the opportunity to witness the premiere of the Alternative Fuel Polar Exploration Hummer, scheduled to conduct research missions at the North and South Poles in 2009. The students learned about the environmental benefits of using alternative fuel sources such as walnut oil, which is used in the Hummer.

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Photo by Raytheon- Adam Dubrowa

Students were able to climb in, sit inside and view the LCD projectors in the cockpit of the driver’s seat that simulated driving on the North Pole.

NASCAR driver Kevin Conway fresh off a run at the Daytona 500 race also appeared and “wowed” the kids with stories of how he uses math calculations every minute as he speeds around the track at over 20 0 mph. He showed video of the recent race, and according to Raytheon press materials he was not able to stump some of the Los Angeles's smartest middle school students. Raytheon has pioneered its involvement in National Engineers Week, with last year’s event including a video game designer and previous events including national sports figures.