Contact: Muriel Banares or
Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
(818) 677-2130
carmen.chandler@csun.edu

CSUN to Host Day of Fun-Filled Science
Competition for Middle School Students

The day is assigned to give disadvantaged students a taste of what it is like to study engineering and mathematics.

"'MESA Day' provides a healthy, positive and competitive atmosphere for educationally disadvantaged students who otherwise do not dream of pursuing a career in mathematics, engineering or science once they get to college," said Gillian Massey, director of CSUN's MESA program. MESA stands for Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement.

The activities will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in CSUN's University Student Union on the east end of the campus. Free campus parking is available at Plummer and Zelzah Ave.

The day includes hands-on academically challenging contests, such as constructing mousetrap cars and craftstick bridges, constructing and explaining the gastrointestinal or digestive tract and dropping raw eggs without breaking them.

The day will also feature competitions between students in the MESA program from Loyola Marymount, Cal State Los Angeles, UCLA and Cal State Northridge.

The contests will be judged by professional engineers and other technical staff from corporations such as Boeing, Rocketdyne, Lockheed, Litton, US Minerals Management Systems and the Navy in the Oxnard area.

"This is a day when students can interface with professionals from the industry who serve as role models. For example, Martha Barajas, who was once a MESA student and a CSUN grad, is the only female, Latina petroleum engineer in her company," Massey said.

For information, call Gillian Massey or Wendy Gledhill at (818) 677-2753 or (818) 677-3767.