A study was commissioned by Idaho state legislators after industry leaders said there were not enough graduates in engineering and computer science to support Idaho’s economy. You can find the report by KTVB7 News and the study released last week here.
One club on the North Idaho College campus works to create interest in engineering through hands-on experience. The Physics and Engineering Club is one of three STEM clubs on campus, along with computer science and math.
You may have seen the club tabling in the SUB over the past few weeks to recruit students who learn more about engineering with hands-on experience by refurbishing the NIC trebuchet for Punkin’ Chunkin’, Nov. 3.
A trebuchet is a type of catapult with a long arm that uses leverage to launch heavy objects long distances. For Punkin’ Chunkin’, the trebuchet will be used to launch old jack-o-lanterns across the NIC parking lot, creating a mass of pumpkin mash that will be composted.
In an update for the event, club president David Bosinov said, “The trebuchet is working as expected; our team is just making some final tweaks to ensure it’s ready for the event. We did have previous club members and presidents from years’ past come into town last Friday and walk us through everything.”
Bosinov said the club offers exciting and engaging opportunities for members and gives them the invaluable experience of translating theoretical knowledge into tangible, real-world applications. They welcome everyone who wants to learn, whether or not they are a physics or engineering major.
The NIC Punkin’ Chunkin’ event is free and open to the public on Friday, Nov. 3, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information or to volunteer, please contact David Bosinov dcbozinov@students.nic.edu
