Date posted: 02/20/2009*

Raytheon’s MathMovesU program celebrated National Engineers Week at the Wonders of Life pavilion in Epcot Center®. Raytheon Network Centric Systems engineers Dr. Christopher Eck, Susanna Packasukas, Donna Boerner and James Foulis participated in a “Show and Tell” demonstration, reaching nearly 350 students from Washington Shores, Palmetto, Pinelock and Richmond Heights Elementary Schools in Orlando, Fla.

The students exclaimed with delight and surprise as the engineers helped them make instant “snow” with an acrylic sodium salt polymer, also known as a super-slurper because of its ability to absorb as much as 200 to 300 times its mass in water.

“I think the goal with students is to overcome the perception that engineering and math is not applicable to their daily lives,” said Dr. Christopher Eck. “They had fun learning about basic math and engineering concepts, and hopefully, we planted some seeds that will help them to consider a career in engineering,” said Donna Boerner.

Since its inception in 2005, Raytheon’s MathMovesU program has touched the lives of more than 700,000 students, teachers and parents in an effort to help engage students in math and science. In addition to the events at Epcot, there are more than 25 demonstrations and events scheduled around the country this week for middle and high school students.

Read the press release.