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Area businesses join with Marquette to introduce electrical engineering careers to students

Twenty-four high school juniors and seniors will get a hands-on perspective of electrical engineering during a five-day workshop Aug. 10-14 sponsored by Marquette University’s College of Engineering and five area businesses.

The students, from high schools throughout the region, will learn how electricity is produced and distributed, how to control it, how to conserve it, and how new age electronics contribute to the “Smart Grid” of tomorrow. They’ll create electric circuits, power generation turbines and other electrical circuits representative of the industries involved to help them understand the technology of electronic devices.

The students will begin each day on the Marquette campus, with a lecture/demonstration, followed by a hands-on activity. Each afternoon will be spent on site at one of the participating businesses, Waukesha Electric, We Energies, Veolia Water Milwaukee, Johnson Controls and S&C Electric Co.

A kick-off luncheon is scheduled at 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, at Waukesha Electric, 400 South Prairie Ave., Waukesha. Media are welcome at the luncheon or at any of the week’s events. For lunch, please RSVP to Andrew.brodzeller@marquette.edu by noon Thursday, Aug 6.

“There is a shortage of electrical engineers,” said Dan Dickinson of Waukesha Electric, co-coordinator of the academy with Jack Samuelson from Marquette. “We need to attract young people to this career if we want to continue to be the world technology leader and ensure a high quality of life for everyone.”

The daily schedule of activities is as follows:

Monday, Aug. 10

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Marquette College of Engineering, 1515 W. Wisconsin Ave.

• “The Basics of Electricity and the Role of Transformers”
• Hands-on Activities: “Why does my doorbell need a transformer?” and simple circuits

11:45 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Waukesha Electric, 400 South Prairie Ave., Waukesha

            In little more than 35 years, Waukesha Electric Systems has grown from a start-up operation to become the largest manufacturer of power transformers and valued supplier of complete transformer service solutions for the transmission and distribution of electric power in the United States. The company's history is one of sustained growth made possible by strong leadership, dedicated employees, constant innovation and quality products including a strong commitment to advancing industry technology in support of renewables, system grid reliability and protection of the environment and public health.

• Luncheon
• Video: “Shift Happens: Globalization in the Information Age”
• Panel discussion: Careers in Electrical Engineering
• Tour of Waukesha Electric Systems facilities: Students will have the opportunity to tour a state-of-the art transformer manufacturing plant and speak with experienced team members that work on constructing this large equipment from CAD drawings and Pro-E models through testing and shipment.

Tuesday, Aug. 11

9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Marquette College of Engineering, 1515 W. Wisconsin Ave.

• Generation of AC Electricity
• Hands on activities: “Is it a motor or a generator?” and multi-meters

11 a.m. – noon – Discovery World, 500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee

• “Tesla Lives!” theatre show

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Tour of We Energies Valley Power Plant, 1035 W. Canal St.

            Valley Power is a coal-fueled plant co-generating steam and electricity for We Energies customers.

• Plant tour: Students will receive an overview of the plant operation, major equipment and the heating steam system that is supplied to more than 1,000 customers in downtown Milwaukee. Students will be provided with personal protective equipment (hard hat, safety goggles, ear plugs) as they tour the plant, including the main Control Room to see how the facility is operated and various key equipment (boiler, turbine, generators).
• Discussion of careers in engineering

Wednesday, Aug. 12

9 a.m. – noon - Marquette College of Engineering, 1515 W. Wisconsin Ave.

• “Role of Sensors in Automated Systems”
• Hands-on activity: “Look Ma, I built a robot”

1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Veolia Water, 700 East Jones Street, Milwaukee

            Veolia Water manages the regional wastewater treatment for the Metropolitan Milwaukee sewerage District

• Tour of the Jones Island Wastewater Treatment Plant – Students will be introduced to the 24/7 operation that necessitates various types of controls and staffing for around-the-clock monitoring. They will interact with Veolia engineers and IT staff whose responsibilities are to run, maintain and oversee the electrical controls that monitor wastewater treatment at both the Jones Island and South Shore water reclamation facilities.
• Discussion of careers in engineering

Thursday, Aug. 13

9 a.m. – noon - Marquette College of Engineering, 1515 W. Wisconsin Ave.

• “Batteries: AC or DC?” and solar energy and efficient energy usage
• Hands-on activity: Generating DC electricity with a lemon and solar car races

1 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Johnson Controls, 5757 N. Green Bay Ave.

            Johnson Controls is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, the company creates smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. The company’s 140,000 employees create a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. A commitment to sustainability drives Johnson Controls’ environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in the company’s workplaces and communities, and the products and services provided to customers.

• Tour of the headquarters building, showcasing energy efficient and sustainable products and services, such as solar, geothermal, green roof, and water management. 
• Discussion of careers in engineering

Friday, Aug. 14

9 a.m. – noon - Marquette College of Engineering, 1515 W. Wisconsin Ave.

• “Electronics … The Cool Stuff
• Hands-on activities: Electronic devices (lie detector, police siren, burglar alarm, pest repeller) and capacitor cars

1 p.m. – 4 p.m. – S&C Electric, 5251 W. Franklin, Franklin

            S&C Electric Company is a global provider of equipment and services that harness the benefits of the Smart Grid. The company’s innovative products can greatly improve power system reliability and operating efficiency and help integrate renewable energy sources into the grid. S&C’s Power Quality Products Division provides large-scale power electronic solutions that protect customers from power disturbances, control voltage on the grid, and manage electrical energy storage so that power demand can be better matched to available generation.

• Introduction to S&C’s products and services
• Tour of the facility, showcasing power electronics products
• Discussion of careers in engineering

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