The objective of the project, titled "Engineering Careers and Related Studies," is to introduce pre-university students to the different engineering specializations and the challenges engineers face in their work.

Polytechnique's Student Recruitment Office implemented this concept of classroom conferences in the winter of 2004 in a bid to bridge the gap between Polytechnique and junior college professors. The idea seems to have been well-received by cégep professors, given that 25 conferences were requested during the 2004-2005 season. The project's success has motivated the RCMM and Polytechnique to renew the initiative this year.

The series includes 12 conferences. Each will explore one facet of an engineer's work and will be presented by a Polytechnique professor who will meet cégep students in their classrooms at the request of their science teachers. The students will be able to use this knowledge about the engineering field as they make decisions about their future careers.

Conference titles  :

1. Energy in the Year 2025. Presented by Philippe Tanguy, professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering;
2. Earthquakes--a Challenge for the Civil Engineer. Presented by Robert Tremblay, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering (civil engineering program);
3. What's New About Waves? A Futuristic Look at Radiofrequency Applications. Presented by Jean-Jacques Laurin, professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering;
4. Global Warming: a Geological Perspective. Presented by Denis Marcotte, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering (geological engineering program);
5. Designing and Organizing an Automobile Assembly Line: How Exactly is it Done? Presented by Bruno Agard, professor in the Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering; 
6. The New Game Consoles: Challenges for Computer and Software Engineers. Presented by Michel Dagenais, professor in the Department of Computer Engineering (software engineering program);
7. The Computer Networks of Tomorrow and Security. Presented by José Fernandez, professor in the Department of Computer Engineering;
8. Advanced Materials in Everyday Life. Presented by Sylvain Turenne, professor in the Department of Materials Engineering;
9. Designing Microscopic Mechanical Devices Inspired by the Human Body. Presented by Daniel Therriault, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering;
10. Diamonds in Canada! A New Gold Rush? Presented by Richard Simon, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering (mining engineering program);
11. Fibreoptics Rescue the Internet. Presented by Nicolas Godbout, professor in the Department of Engineering Physics;
12. Behind Each Passion is an Engineer! Presented by the Marianne-Mareschal Chair, which promotes engineering to women.

The interest shown by cégeps in these activities was confirmed during the first series of conferences offered in 2004-2005 by Professors Raymond Desjardins (civil engineering), Richard Simon (mining engineering), Bruno Massicotte (civil engineering), Robert Tremblay (civil engineering), Richard Labib (applied mathematics), Carl-Éric Aubin (mechanical engineering), Michel Dagenais (software engineering), Alain Vinet (biomedical engineering), Mario Jolicoeur (chemical engineering), David Ménard (engineering physics), Élizabeth Varin (engineering physics) and Nicolas Godbout (engineering physics).

Many thanks to these "pioneers" who paved the way to a successful project!

Information: Please contact Esther Caouette <mailto:esther.caouette@polymtl.ca>, in charge of Polytechnique's student recruitment services, at (514) 340-4711, ext. 5846