2009 RWDC Partners

The Real World Design Challenge provides an example of government agencies, private industry and our educational system working together to address the nation's 21st Century workforce needs. The businesses, educational institutions, state and federal government agencies listed below provided assistance in the creation of this inaugural Real World Design Challenge.

Governmental Partners

The United States Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE)

The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, providing more than 40 percent of total funding for this vital area of national importance. It oversees – and is the principal federal funding agency of – the Nation’s research programs in high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences.

The Office of Science manages fundamental research programs in basic energy sciences, biological and environmental sciences, and computational science. In addition, the Office of Science is the Federal Government’s largest single funder of materials and chemical sciences, and it supports unique and vital parts of U.S. research in climate change, geophysics, genomics, life sciences, and science education.

The Office of Science oversees the construction and operation of some of the Nation’s most advanced R&D user facilities, located at national laboratories and universities. These include particle and nuclear physics accelerators, synchrotron light sources, neutron scattering facilities, supercomputers and high-speed computer networks. In the 2007 fiscal year, these facilities were used by more than 21,000 researchers from universities, national laboratories, private industry, and other federal science agencies.

The Office of Science also reaches out to America’s youth in grades K-12 and their teachers to help improve students’ knowledge of science and mathematics and their understanding of global energy and environmental challenges.

To attract and encourage students to choose an education in the sciences and engineering, the Office of Science also supports the National Science Bowl®, an educational competition for high school and middle school students involving all branches of science. Each year, DOE’s National Science Bowl® attracts over 17,000 students nationwide. At the high school level, it involves more than 12,000 students, and at the middle school level, more than 5,000 students.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the group under the name "Federal Aviation Agency", and adopted its current name in 1967 when it became a part of the United States Department of Transportation. The FAA's major roles include:

• Regulating U.S. commercial space transportation
• Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology
• Regulating civil aviation to promote safety, especially through local offices called FSDOs (Flight Standard District Offices)
• Developing and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft
• Researching and developing the National Airspace System and civil aeronautics
• Developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation.

The FAA, as part of the Department of Transportation, has a vested interest in ensuring that future employees are well prepared for the workplace and that the agency has a continuous qualified pool of applicants to draw from in filling its ranks. To that end, FAA encourages young people to study and pursue learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The agency believes that aviation and aerospace education offers exciting opportunities to develop and maintain student's interest in technological careers.

NASA Ames Research Center

Ames Research Center (Silicon Valley) enables exploration through selected development, innovative technologies, and interdisciplinary scientific discovery. Ames provides leadership in astrobiology; robotic lunar exploration; technologies for CEV, CLV, and HLV; the search for habitable planets; supercomputing; intelligent/adaptive systems; advanced thermal protection; and airborne astronomy. Ames develops tools for a safer, more efficient national airspace and unique partnerships benefiting NASA's mission.

Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education is located in the north-central Oklahoma town of Stillwater. The department provides leadership, resources, and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. That system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 56 campuses, 398 comprehensive school districts, 25 skill centers and three juvenile facilities.

Business Partners

Hewlett-Packard Corporation

As a global leader in information technology, Hewlett-Packard Corporation (HP) applies new thinking and ideas to help remove complexity and simplify technology experiences. We strive to continuously improve the way our customers live and work through sophisticated technology that is easy to use and manage. HP's quality engineering and reliable service and support gives all of our customers from individual consumers to the largest enterprises greater freedom to focus on their priorities and confidence to reach their goals. Because ultimately we know that each time we create a truly valuable experience, we are helping people achieve results that really count.

Parametric Technology Corporation

PTC provides leading Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), content management and dynamic publishing software solutions to more than 50,000 companies worldwide. The company was formed in 1985, is publicly traded on Nasdaq (Nasdaq: PMTC) and is the largest software company headquartered in Massachusetts. PTC customers include many of the world's most innovative companies in the manufacturing, publishing, services, government and life sciences industries. PTC is included in the S &P Midcap 400 and Russell 2000 indices. FY 2007 revenue: $942 million (9/30/07)

Mentor Graphics (formerly Flomerics)

Mentor Graphics – Mechanical Analysis Division (formerly Flomerics) is a world leader in the computer simulation of engineering design processes including heat transfer and fluid flow simulation. Our customers eliminate mistakes, reduce costs, and accelerate and optimize their designs by applying our simulation software and consultancy services before building physical prototypes. With advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, we help increase efficiency in your development process, saving valuable time and money.

Mentor Graphics is providing its FloEFD computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software free-of-charge for this program with the Department of Energy and PTC. The aim is to help students involved in the Real World Design Challenge by improving the aerodynamics of their designs in the competition. Mentor Graphics has worked with PTC in the past on other educational initiatives as well.

Cessna Aircraft Company

Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5 billion. Cessna has a current backlog of $16 billion through June 30, 2008. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 190,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of more than 5,200 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at http://www.cessna.com.

Boeing

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

Boeing has a long tradition of aerospace leadership and innovation. We continue to expand our product line and services to meet emerging customer needs. Our broad range of capabilities includes creating new, more efficient members of our commercial airplane family; integrating military platforms, defense systems and the warfighter through network-centric operations; creating advanced technology solutions that reach across business units; e-enabling airplanes and providing connectivity on moving platforms; and arranging financing solutions for our customers.

Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 160,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries. This represents one of the most diverse, talented and innovative workforces anywhere. More than 83,800 of our people hold college degrees--including nearly 29,000 advanced degrees--in virtually every business and technical field from approximately 2,800 colleges and universities worldwide. Our enterprise also leverages the talents of hundreds of thousands more skilled people working for Boeing suppliers worldwide.

Educational and Non-Profit Partners

Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC)

Education Development Center, Inc. is a global nonprofit organization that develops, delivers, and evaluates innovative programs to solve some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic development through more than 325 projects in 35 countries. EDC’s Workforce and Human Development programs support the intellectual and career development of individuals and groups to achieve success in living, learning and working in a global knowledge economy. In schools, communities and work settings, we build public-private partnerships, design systems, and construct standards-based programs and curricula with technology at the core. We create and customize seamless education to employment systems and develop strategic cross-sector initiatives to build and sustain local capacity. A special focus of our work supports information and communication technology (ICT) fluency for all learners, and nurtures the interests and talents of young users and producers of technology.

Build A Plane

Build A Plane is a non-profit organization working in formal partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration to promote aviation education. Build A Plane donates real airplanes to schools, providing a unique and motivating way for kids to learn science, technology, engineering and math. Projects range from inner city schools to a remote Eskimo village in Alaska, with other programs underway in places like Africa and India. In addition to its aircraft building program, Build A Plane is developing aviation projects and curricula to directly stimulate interest in a wide range of aviation careers, from the cockpit to engineering to maintenance and manufacturing.

MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

MIT Aero-Astro is home to some of the world's leading aerospace teachers and researchers Our community includes a former space shuttle astronaut, a former secretary of the Air Force, a former NASA associate administrator, three former Air Force chief scientists, 13 members of the National Academy of Engineering and 14 fellows of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Our mission is to prepare engineers in the fundamental principles and disciplines necessary for success and leadership in the conception, design, implementation, and operation of aerospace and related engineering systems. Aero-Astro graduates are prepared for careers in aircraft and spacecraft engineering; space exploration; air and space-based telecommunication industries; teaching; research; military service; and in many related technology-intensive fields.

Massachusetts NASA Space Grant

The Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium (MASGC) is a group of 21 universities, colleges and other institutions stretching from Cape Cod to the Berkshires with a common interest in carrying out aerospace-related research and attracting students to careers in space science and engineering. The consortium management is located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MASGC's goals are to represent NASA in Massachusetts, to promote public understanding of and support for space exploration and research, and to encourage students to choose courses of study that will lead them to enter the technical work force. One of MASGC's primary activities is providing fellowships to Massachusetts students to enable them to engage in study and research projects and to attend meetings that they would not be able to do without Space Grant support.

National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)

The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) is a non-profit research and graduate education institute headquartered in Hampton, Va. It was formed in 2002 by a consortium of research universities to ensure a national capability to support NASA’s mission by expanding collaboration with academia and leveraging expertise inside and outside NASA. NIA performs research in a broad range of disciplines including space exploration, systems engineering, nanoscale materials science, flight systems, aerodynamics, air traffic management, aviation safety, planetary and space science, and global climate change. The Institute’s graduate program offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the fields of engineering and science through its university partners: Georgia Tech, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, and the College of William & Mary. More information about the National Institute of Aerospace is available at http://www.NIAnet.org.

Secondary Career & Technical Education (Wichita)

The Wichita Public Schools provides quality education to a school community of nearly 49,000 students, approximately 11 percent of all public school students in the state of Kansas. The student body is rich with diversity: 39% Caucasian, 23% Hispanic, 21% African-American, 9% multi-racial, 5% Asian and 3% American Indian. Parents and staff work together to create a learning environment that is safe, caring and academically challenging. The Wichita Public Schools has experienced increased student achievement for more than 10 years. Wichita students are connecting to school and excelling because of unique learning opportunities, like the Secondary Career and Technical Education programs. High school students are involved in ten SCTE programs which stress technical training and employability skills by providing experience-based learning options, career shadowing and summer internships, and connections to post-secondary educational opportunities.

George Mason University

George Mason University responds to the call for excellence in interdisciplinary research and teaching, not simply by adding programs, but by rethinking the traditional structure of the academy.

The university offers more than 100 degree programs, including many innovative interdisciplinary programs that allow students to design personalized courses of study with faculty guidance.

Business Educational Partners Group, Inc.

Business Educational Partnerships Group (BEPG), Inc. BEPG is the Premier Business and Education Partnership initiative for the Aerospace, Manufacturing and Transportation industries. BEPG core mission is to: “Launch and sustain Premier Business and Education Partnerships between quality educational institutions and industry communities, enhancing workforce and economic development strategies, resulting in collaborative solutions for competitive advantage.”

Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University is a multi-campus public land grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research, and outreach. The instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, technical, extension, and continuing education informed by scholarship and research. The research, scholarship, and creative activities promote human and economic development through the expansion of knowledge and its application.

University of Oklahoma

Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health-related fields. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa. The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. OU enrolls almost 30,000 students, has more than 2,300 full-time faculty members, and has 20 colleges offering 154 majors at the baccalaureate level, 160 majors at the master’s level, 85 majors at the doctoral level, 39 majors at the first professional level, and 18 graduate certificates. The university’s annual operating budget is $1.46 billion. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportu nity institution.

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Francis Tuttle Technology Center serves high school juniors and seniors who reside in our partner school districts, as well as adults, with career-specific training to maintain a quality workforce. Three Academy programs prepare high school sophomores, juniors and seniors for the academic rigor of university-level degree programs. Francis Tuttle also offers complete business and industry training and consulting services, short-term training for career enhancement or leisure activities, and a variety of offerings via the online campus. All programs and services maintain high standards for the benefit of the individuals served, and for those businesses that employ them. Francis Tuttle has averaged more than 40,000 enrollments over the past five years, with total enrollment for 2005-2006 reaching 41,720.

Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc.

The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. provides services and resources to entrepreneurs and businesses, and through collaboration with industry, academia, and government, helps companies innovate and compete, thereby strengthening our nation in the global market.