Held typically the last week in February, National Engineers Week was initiated to publicly promote the work and contributions of our nation's engineers. During this week, engineering professionals have a unique opportunity to increase public awareness of the positive contributions engineers make to their communities, to this nation and to the world. National Engineers Week has grown to involve tens of thousands of engineers in a variety of community outreach activities, including technology exhibits and presentations of student scholarships.

In Maine, Engineers Week has been celebrated through an annual Conference, where engineers, educators, and students have gathered for hands-on activities and workshops. For Maine Engineers Week, the Planning Committees decided to take a new approach to their promotional strategy. Since the objective of Engineers Week is to promote the engineering profession, the Engineers Week Planning Committee and the Maine Engineering Promotion Council are working to increase the visibility of engineering in Maine through a dynamic, aggressive and effective publicity campaign.

MEPC's efforts include this continually updated website, a TV spot advertisement that is being aired throughout Maine in February, forming a Speaker's Bureau open to civic organizations, student groups, and schools.

The TV spot ran 40 times each on NBC network affiliates in the Portland and Bangor (the two Maine major television markets) in the week leading up to Engineer's Week. The television commercial ad-buy targeted adults aged 35-54 (the age likely to have school-aged children in the family) during times when school-aged children were more likely to be present. Burgess & Associates Advertising, Inc., MEPC's media consultant, reports the TV spot provided the following demographic coverage:

• Portland: 87% of adults 35-54 an average of 3 times. 92% of women 35-54 an average of 3.2 times The estimated weekly audience of WCSH is 383,000.
• Bangor: 64% of adults 35-54 an average of 2.5 times 73% of women 35-54 an average of 2.5 times The estimated weekly audience of WLBZ is 104,000.

The website is intended to be an engineering information resource center for students, educators, and engineering professionals alike. Other elements will be incorporated as funding and resources allow.

Please contact us with your comments, suggestions, or other inquiries. We welcome your input!

We are looking for a number of people (professionals or college students) to speak before various organizations like Kiwanis and Rotary, and school room classes. Your topic should be related to the field of engineering .... maybe it's the noteworthy project you're working on, or if at school, what is an engineer?