Honeywell and SAE International Launch Third Annual Student Automotive Design Challenge

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Sep 02, 2010, 02:00 ET

Program to Promote Early-Stage Math and Science Education Expands to Nine Countries

WARRENDALE, Pa., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Honeywell and SAE International announced today the launch of the third Honeywell/SAE Student Automotive Design Challenge. This program is designed to engage students, ages 11-14, in hands-on math and science training, enabling them to actively discover how these subjects relate to their everyday lives, while uncovering potential career opportunities.

Teams from 10 schools in nine countries will compete by working on an automotive "design team" to produce a motorized toy vehicle. Their work will span the full automotive development cycle, from writing proposals and drawing sketches to developing their own working prototypes. Honeywell volunteers attend class to serve as experts in the engineering and technology fields. The teams initially compete within each school and, subsequently, on a global basis with other teams around the world.

This year, the program will reach more than 400 students in nine countries: China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Switzerland, the U.S.—and for the first time, Romania. All of the schools are in communities where Honeywell operates automotive-related facilities and its employees can actively serve as a resource for the student teams. The program begins August 30 and runs for nine weeks. Honeywell employees will vote online to select a global winner that will be announced on January 7, 2011.

"Our goal was to develop a fun, hands-on program that can get students excited about science and math," said Joe Toubes, Vice President of Communications for Honeywell Transportation Systems. "We hope that the program will help students develop a life-long interest in engineering and technology, while giving them a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with students from around the world tackling the same technical problems."

The curriculum used in the SADC program was developed by the SAE Foundation and won the National Science Foundation's prestigious 2008 Public Service Award. The program integrates science, math, technology, social studies and language arts by assigning students to a mock corporation to research, design, test and build electric gear-driven toy cars. Students work in design teams of four to build a vehicle and write proposals, draw sketches, model designs and develop plans that meet the specific set of design requirements identified in market research. Students share their results with their international peers via an online forum, designed to directly connect students at a global level.

"We are pleased to again be partnering with Honeywell on the Student Automotive Design Challenge," said Matthew Miller, Director, SAE Foundation and Pre-College Programs. "Issues such as the rising cost of energy and increasing environmental concerns impact the entire world and demand global solutions. By engaging these students, we can help give them the knowledge and tools they need to understand why science and math skills are important and how they can help create positive and lasting change."

For more information on the Honeywell/SAE Student Automotive Design Challenge, visit http://www.honeywell-sae.com/.

About Honeywell

Honeywell's Transportation Systems business is a worldwide leader in the development of turbocharger technology for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. It also manufactures and markets leading consumer automotive brands including FRAM® oil, air, transmission and fuel filters; Prestone® antifreeze/coolant and car care products; Autolite® spark plugs; Holts® car care products and Bendix® automotive braking technology.

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

About SAE International

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series.