Sitting down? EIGHT of the current Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders are pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering or math. EIGHT. Let’s meet one now.

Wendy is working towards her biomedical engineering degree at Georgia Institute of Technology (aka Georgia Tech). She’d like to go on to earn her PhD and become a reconstructive surgeon and help the military develop biological reconstructive technologies …and she’s planning to get married and have a big family. That’s right! Check out our interview with Wendy:

SciCheer: What turned you on to science and when?
Wendy: I’ve always been interested in science. Since I can remember I’ve wanted to know how things worked. In middle school and high school I became more interested in the biological sciences than chemistry or physics. Once in college I realized that I love physiology and the biomedical aspect of that. Basically I think that anything that explains how the body works is super cool!

SciCheer: Please tell us about your favorite and least favorite courses you are taking to prepare for your Biomedical Engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Wendy: Favorite courses: systems physiology, systems pathophysiology, and cellular physiology;
least favorite: principles of conservation – it was like four really hard classes crammed into one.

Wendy, cheering for the Falcons!

SciCheer: How long have you been cheering for the Atlanta Falcons?
Wendy: This is my rookie season!!

SciCheer: Which came first: your interest in science or cheerleading?
Wendy: I’ve danced on and off pretty much my whole life. I got more involved in high school because I was on the dance team, as my interests in science continued to develop. I continued to dance in college, as well as pursue a science degree, and that’s when I was really introduced to the idea of professional cheerleading. My collegiate coach is a captain on the Falcons and her ‘pro cheer’ style definitely influenced the team and my ambitions. Before then I had thought of cheering for the NFL as very niche – like something only a select group of special people got to be involved with. Once I saw it as a tangible opportunity, I knew I wanted to do it.

SciCheer: Can you describe a typical day (at work, then cheering…please elaborate)?
Wendy: I’m a full-time student so I’m in class during most of the day. I also work as a research assistant in a lab on campus. Between dance rehearsals, games, and studying for the GRE (entrance exams for graduate school), I don’t have much “free time.”

SciCheer: Did you find that stereotypes about cheerleaders helped or hindered your studies or professional experiences? (Were you taken seriously?)
Wendy: Honestly nothing frustrates me more than when people react based on what they think they know about cheerleaders. Where I grew up, people seemed to think that you couldn’t be both “pretty” and “smart,” and they made that clear in how they acted toward certain people. My genuine interests in science kept me on the path to my degree and career. Thankfully at Georgia Tech and in Atlanta, people don’t buy into those stereotypes as much. I’ve found that while most people don’t expect me to say I’m a Biomedical Engineering student and Georgia Tech, they think it’s great. Everyone I’ve dealt with professionally has been very supportive and helpful.

SciCheer: How did your fellow cheerleaders accept your interest in science?
Wendy: They think it’s great! Everyone on the team is so supportive of each other in every aspect of life. I love getting texts that say things like “Good luck, smarty pants!” from team mates when they know I have a test.

SciCheer: Do you have any advice for youngsters who might feel torn between following one dream (cheerleading, etc) associated with beauty or being a ditz,  and following another (a STEM career) usually associated with, well, geeks?
Wendy: Don’t believe people when they tell you you can’t have it all. I, the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders, and every other professional cheerleader in the world are proof of that. There is no reason you can’t do it all!  There will always be someone telling you something negative, no matter what you do, so just stop listening and work towards accomplishing your goals for yourself. And keep in mind that for ever one person who says you can’t accomplish something, there are 10 other people saying you can and thinking that what you’re working toward, whether cheer-related or academically, is amazing. Like my mom always tells me, reach for the stars!

SciCheer: Here, here! Along these lines, what advice would you give your 12-year-old self?
Wendy: DON’T GET DISCOURAGED. Believe your mom when she tells you YOU CAN DO IT!

SciCheer: Best cheerleading experience?
Wendy: My favorite singular moment is running out of the tunnel on the first game day and seeing thousands of waving Falcons flags. The best ongoing experiences are working with such talented women and getting to be so involved in the Atlanta community.

SciCheer: Best science-related experience?
Wendy: Having a paper I co-wrote published in the Journal of Biomaterials. (Engineering fibrin matrices: The engagement of polymerization pockets through fibrin knob technology for the delivery and retention of therapeutic proteins.)

SciCheer: WOW, congratulations! So, what are your plans for the future?
Wendy: In the next couple years I want to get a PhD in tissue engineering and then go to medical school. My ultimate goal is to be a reconstructive surgeon and work with the military to develop biological reconstructive technology for use in surgery… and to get married and have a big family!

Good luck, Wendy. We’re cheering for you!

Dr. John here…  As one of the few lifelong Arizona Cardinals fans, it is a real honor to introduce Marcie, Pro Bowl Cardinals Cheerleader and electrical engineer at Intel®. She’s the latest superstar in our series featuring professional cheerleaders and athletes who are pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers.

Marcie is in her fourth year with the Cardinals and previously cheered at Arizona State University (ASU) while completing her engineering degree. She’s currently a Technical Marketing Engineer managing an architectural conversion program at Intel® Corporation in the Embedded and Communications Group. She assists the sales teams win designs in embedded markets, converting them from PPC, SPARC, ARM and MIPS to Intel architecture.

Arizona Cardinals and Cheerleaders to the Super Bowl and BEYOND! Take it away Marcie…

Marcie, who or what experience turned you on to science and engineering?
I have always been intrigued by science based careers. In high school several of my mom’s friends were engineers so she had me talk to them and spend a day on the job with one. From a little exposure and a summer job working at a technology start-up company, I was hooked on the fact that I could be involved in the next technological advancement which shapes the way we live.

Do you have any advice for youngsters who might feel torn between following one dream associated with beauty or physique (cheerleading, baseball, etc) and following a STEM career usually associated with, well, geeks?

I encourage girls of all ages to do what excites and motivates them, no matter what it is! If it is something as diverse as cheerleading and engineering, go for it! You will only be a more well rounded individual! Also, having an engineering degree gives you a foundation that you can use anywhere and will enable a long, stable career path.

Did you find that stereotypes about cheerleaders helped or hindered your studies or professional experiences?

Having the diversity of cheerleading and engineering has been an extremely positive experience for me personally and professionally. Having the ability to perform and cheer while pursuing a career in engineering has been a perfect physical outlet and allowed for a great work/life balance. I have been lucky enough to have a ton of support from my boss and co-workers. Although there may be some who stereotype the capabilities of cheerleaders, others stereotype engineers. We can’t let their negativity or comments stop us from pursuing our dreams. It’s our responsibility to break down false assumptions around us.

How do you encourage people to become more interested in science and engineering?

It is important to me to raise awareness and encourage young people to be interested in science and engineering. I stay involved in community activities such as Jr. Achievement and CompuGirls which promotes continued education and intertwines fun and engaging projects that teach science basics.

What are some ways that science and engineering impact our world that people may not think about?

We all encounter science and engineering regularly and don’t even realize it! Products that require science and engineering surround us every day, influencing the way we live and communicate with one another. This is especially prevalent in my career.

Think about your day. From the time you wake up in the morning to the time you get to work or school you interact with technology in embedded devices in your home, in your car, digital signs in the store or on the side of the highway, making a phone call, and getting cash at the ATM. These are all areas where Intel technology continues to grow and impact each and every one of us.

Best cheerleading experience?

Being a part of the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleading organization has given me a tremendous amount of experiences that I would not have had otherwise. One of my best and most memorable experiences has to be the opportunity to perform for the troops. More specifically, performing for the troops in Iraq this past September was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Giving back to the men and woman who serve our country by bringing a little piece of home and some entertainment was priceless!

Wildest engineering moment?

The level of intelligence I encounter every day at work is always wild to me. It’s mind-blowing to think that I get to work with the smartest engineers on the planet and get insight into what consumers won’t have access to for years!

Favorite and/or least favorite courses you took to prepare for your work?

I have always enjoyed my math based course work best, especially statistics and differential equations (Diffi Q). However, there were several deadly hard classes I had to complete for an engineering degree. I didn’t necessarily like them all and I wasn’t always the top of the class, but sometimes it’s just about proving that you can finish a task. Don’t quit because of a couple difficult courses. The same goes for dance and cheer. You may not be able to do as advanced tumbling tricks or as many pirouettes as the next girl, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t going to succeed!

Sign up to get Science Cheerleader updates by email!

Dr. John here… After a great interview with San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleader Erica, (and as part of our continuing effort to playfully challenge stereotypes and inspire young women to consider careers in science) I thought we’d make it an all-49ers week here on Science Cheerleader!

I’d like to introduce you to Christine, a biomedical engineer and a first-year member of the 49ers Gold Rush squad. Christine has a Masters in biomedical engineering from Arizona State and is currently pursing a PhD in the Joint Graduate Group in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco.

As you’ll discover in the interview below, Christine is a master at bridging the seemingly different worlds of cheerleading and engineering. Not only is she thrashing stereotypes en route to a career designing new, minimally invasive therapies for cancer patients, but she’s also managed to cheer for two rival NFL teams — the NFC West’s Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers — and the Phoenix Suns. Talk about someone who isn’t afraid to examine the world from different perspectives!

Thanks again to the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush for giving us the opportunity to learn from Christine.

Who or what experience turned you on to science and engineering?

I can’t pinpoint one specific event that made me decide to study bioengineering. I think that there were many hints along the way. When I was little I had a set of children’s books with the biographies of people like Alexander Fleming, Marie Curie, and Helen Keller. I was really inspired by the ones about the famous scientists. I also loved the science museum and excelled more in mathematics and science subjects than other subjects.

For a very long time, I thought that I should be a physician because I wanted to help people and was very interested in medicine. Naturally, I did all the typical premed activities. I went to Tijuana to work in a clinic and volunteered in the pediatric emergency department in a county hospital. To my surprise, I was not thinking of how badly I wanted to be a physician like my friends that went on to medical school, but I was thinking scientist and engineers need to design more affordable, assessable medical therapies and devices.

The experience that finally changed my mind for good was when I volunteered in a Hospice. I saw the patients’ suffering in a new way. I realized that the technology for treatment and knowledge about these patients’ diseases were insufficient. Developing technology and innovation for this group of patients was something that I could spend the rest of my life working on. Bioengineering is a unique engineering discipline in that it is deeply altruistic with a genuine goal of improving the society by fighting disease and suffering making it was the perfect career path for me.

Do you have any advice for youngsters who might feel torn between following one dream associated with beauty or physique (like cheerleading) and pursuing a science and engineering career usually associated with, well, geeks?

First, I’d like to point out that true beauty is on the inside. External beauty fades, and it is important to nurture other aspects of ourselves outside of our appearance. Although, I do think it is very important to eat well and exercise regularly for our health. Who we are in on the inside is what is most important, and it always shines through. When you stop trying to be someone you are not that’s when life is really the most wonderful and people will see your real beauty.

Being a NFL cheerleader is about so much more than just physical appearance. I tried out for the 49ers because I wanted to contribute to my community, make lasting friendships, and dance on the best stage there is, the NFL. Gold Rush has given me all of those things plus more. Outside of that I just love dancing.  I’ll quote Vicki Baum when I say, “there are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.” I might not be the best dancer but I certainly have heart. If something makes you happy you should just go for it.

In the real world, professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers are by no means “geeks”. Doctors, engineers and scientists are well respected in our society and have very successful lives. I have never once been asked on a date or been invited to a party and then informed them that I was an engineer and had them decide I was too geeky to go. Actually it has been exactly the opposite. Plus I get to have twice as many friends, my dance friends and my engineering friends who push me in different ways to be my best self. I feel like it is a great balance.

My last point is that I think that everyone should find what makes them happy and pursue it, whether it is art, teaching or anything. Life is short and we only get one shot at it. So you might as well live it up. If by chance that something that makes you happy is science or engineering, you shouldn’t let something silly like a geeky stereotype that is not even true persuade you against it.

Did you find that stereotypes about cheerleaders helped or hindered your studies or professional experiences?

Just like there are the stereotypes about scientists and engineers, there are stereotypes about almost every profession including cheerleaders, but in my experience, it only motivated me to prove them wrong. These stereotypes are supported by other’s insecurities, and we should not indulge them. Whenever people are successful there will be critics.

The best compliment is when you can change someone’s opinion. My previous employer said to me one day, “I didn’t know NFL cheerleaders were so smart.” That was a big win for me because my team is full of ambitious, smart, hardworking women, and I want people to see that.

How did your fellow cheerleaders accept your interest in science and engineering?

Totally, I feel like they are very proud of what I do. We are a solid team and extremely supportive of each other. I am very fortunate in that way.

While in college or high school, how did you balance education with cheerleading?

Two things helped me to juggle them. The first one is good time management. Keeping a planner up to date and organized is key. The second thing is to remember why I am doing this, especially when I’m studying late at night on my third cup of coffee or nearing the end of a seven hour practice. However, most the time I felt that without the outlet from school and the support of a team it would have been a lot harder.

How big of role can citizens without formal scientific training play in real scientific research?

As Albert Einstein wrote, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” You do not have to be an award winning scientist to have an awesome idea. If you have one, you should share it.

What are your plans for the future?

I still have a long way to go before I really get to start my career, but at this point in my life, my main career goal is to lead a research group in academia. I would like to be involved in research that is both translational to the clinic and innovative at a basic science level. I would like to be involved in designing diagnostic techniques and therapies for cancer that are minimally invasive.

On a personal level, I am very passionate about making cancer treatment less painful for the patient. It would be a very fulfilling research path for me. Outside of my career, I plan on continuing to dance until my body will not let me anymore and having a family when I meet that special someone.

Best science and engineering experience?

When I search for my last name with Google scholar and my first peer-reviewed paper was there. I felt like I was finally a real engineer.

Favorite scientist and why?

Marie Curie hands down for many reasons. First of all, she was a woman born in 1867. There were very few female engineers or scientists up until the past few decades. Even with these improvements, less than 17% of doctorate recipients in engineering are female (2004) and only 11% of the engineering workforce are women (2003). She far surpassed these cultural barriers back in the early 1900s, advising three doctoral students. She was the first female Nobel Prize winner and the first person to ever win or share two Nobel Prizes. Outside of that I am very passionate about cancer research and it was under her direction, the world’s first studies were conducted into the treatment of neoplasms (cancer) using radioactive isotopes.

Favorite and/or least favorite courses you took to prepare for your work?

I have a love-hate relationship with my more challenging classes. I love learning as much as possible about medicine and engineering. However, there were days when I was stressed or tired because those classes were a lot more work. Transport Phenomena and Organic Chemistry were two of my favorite classes because I learned so much. At the same time they were much harder than UNI 101.

In our continuing effort to playfully challenge stereotypes–and inspire young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, math, and health–I, Dr. John, would like to introduce you to Erica, a San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleader and a software engineer with a masters in Instructional Technology.

In between nailing double pirouettes, Erica works as an Instructional Designer for online classes for graduate students. As distributed e-learning becomes more and more common, it’s great to know that multi-talented women like Erica are working hard to improve online education and training.

I recently had a chance to ask Erica a few questions about her passion for engineering, the challenges of balancing two different worlds, and her future ambitions. Thanks to Erika and the 49ers Gold Rush for spending some with ScienceCheerleader!

Erica, what experience turned you on to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers?

I went to a Math, Science, and Technology High school where I could take programming and advanced math classes. Math was my favorite subject but wasn’t my best. I asked one of my teachers if I could be an engineer if math wasn’t my best subject — he said no. From then one I was determined to prove him wrong, which I did.

Do you have any advice for youngsters who might feel torn between following one dream associated with beauty or physique (like cheerleading) and pursuing a science and engineering career usually associated with, well, geeks?

I think you experience the best of both worlds when you pursue both STEM careers and beauty/physique-centered activities. I am constantly challenged by both, but one is a mental challenge and the other a physical challenge.

How did your fellow cheerleaders accept your interest in engineering?

My fellow cheerleaders accept my interest in engineering. I don’t think they know how much I’m into it. It’s funny because they find what I do to be amazing and challenging when I think of them as just as smart as me and able to do it just as easily. We all find qualities in each other that we wish we had.

Is there advice you would give your former 10-12-year-old self, now that you have the benefit of hindsight?

If there were advice I could give my former 10 year-old-self it would be to accept my talent and not follow the crowd. I was in advanced math and science class throughout elementary and middle school. When I entered middle school, I wanted to be in classes with my friends so I complained to my mom that I didn’t understand my teachers and the work was too hard. She eventually pulled me out of the advanced classes. I was taking Pre Calculus and Physics in 6th grade.

Can you describe a “typical day” at work?

I usually come in and check emails. After emails I work on the Xserve for about 3 hours. I have lunch and watch tourist out on the Pier for about an hour. The rest of my day is working with instructors to design online classes for graduate students.

What are your plans for the future?

In the future, I would like to get my PhD in Instructional Design and become a college professor.

Best cheerleading experience?

My second best cheerleading experience is when I made the Gold Rush finals. My best cheerleading experience is when I actually made Gold Rush. I couldn’t wait to tell my family and especially my Dad who was the most excited.

Favorite and least favorite courses you took to prepare for your work?

My favorite courses were Calculus, Physics, and Probability and Statistics. I liked these courses because I could teach myself. Also, these were the only courses where I could concentrate and listen to music at the same time.

My least favorite course was Differential Equations, hands down. Thinking of Laplace Transform of F(s) = f(t) just makes my skin crawl. I hated it because I wanted to get it so bad but instead I struggled with it.

More exhilarating: positive experimental results or nailing a cheer move?

I am always excited when I nail a double pirouette. Often times I sneak to the bathroom while at work and practice them. Actually, as I am responding to these questions, I took a break to go and practice, ha-ha.

Meet Summer, a former Houston Texans cheerleader who now spends her days developing space flight hardware. This interview is part of a series of Science Cheerleader’s nationally recognized efforts to playfully challenge stereotypes.

SciCheer: Please tell me when/how you first became interested in engineering.

Summer: When I was a freshman in high school I watched Apollo 13 in my Earth Science class and felt immediately inspired to become an engineer at NASA.

SciCheer: What  type of engineer are you and what turned you on to this field?

Summer: I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.  My interest in atmospheric flight and beyond fueled my desire to pursue Aerospace Engineering.

SciCheer: Do you find that your looks (or being a former cheerleader) helped or hindered your studies or professional experiences? (Were you taken seriously?)

Summer: I recall a few students and professors looking at me as if I were lost as I proceeded through the halls of the engineering building at school for the first few weeks.  At work, there was some negative reaction to the fact that my part-time job was on the sidelines of a football field.  It could have hindered me, had I allowed it but I pressed on and, in the end, I was taken seriously.  Beauty can be both a curse and an advantage in a woman’s professional life.

SciCheer: Tell me a little about your favorite courses you took to prepare for your work?

Summer: I absolutely loved learning engineering!  My favorite courses were Aerospace Propulsions, Space Dynamics, Aerospace Design, Flight Mechanics and Controls and Aircraft Accident Investigation.  Though my career has taken me in a direction in which I do not commonly use the technical specifics of these courses they prepared me in other ways.  The course work enhanced my critical thinking and problem solving ability as well taught me presentation skills and engineering professionalism.  The variety of classes really opened my eyes to previously unimaginable possibilities for a career in the engineering world.

SciCheer: Can you describe a “typical day” at work?

Summer: There is no typical day at work in my current position.  There is always something new, which I enjoy.  I spend 90% of my time in laboratories where engineers and technicians are working to develop and sustain space flight hardware containing electronics.

SciCheer: Do you have any advice for middle or high school girls who might feel torn between following one dream (cheerleading or dancing) associated with beauty or following another (science/engineering/medicine) usually associated with, well, geeks?

Summer: There is no reason why you cannot do both! Learn good time management skills and develop healthy habits (proper eating, sleeping & exercise) so you can physically, mentally and happily pursue the dual role.  These dreams can collide and create huge success for you.

SciCheer: Best cheerleading experience?

Summer: It is very difficult to choose one moment as my best cheerleading experience.  Aside from every game day performance, my best experiences lie in what I got to do off of the field as a cheerleader.  An appearance on ESPN Cold Pizza and 1 vs. 100 game show, starring in NFL Presents: Rocket Science, being a key note speaker at the 2009 Super Sci-Tech Saturday Conference and flying on a KC-135 during a mid-air refueling mission with the Texas Air National Guard are a few experiences that really stand out.

SciCheer: Best engineering experience?
My best engineering experience was watching the project I worked on for 4 years – International Space Station Crew Quarters – launch on Space Shuttle Endeavor in November 2008.  I stood with my project team as we watched Crew Quarters blast off on Endeavor into a beautiful night sky aiming for their final destination, the International Space Station, to be used by astronauts for years to come. It was what I deemed my first engineering success and best engineering experience.

SciCheer: Anything you’d like to add that you want people to know?

Summer: While I was earning my engineering degree I also earned my Private Pilot’s license. In addition to an academic scholarship that I received from Cessna Aircraft Company, I participated in pageants through the Miss Kansas Organization to earn scholarship dollars for my education.  The pageants involved interview, talent, swimsuit and evening gown competitions as well as promoting a platform.

SciCheer: What is your current position?

Summer: My position changed just under one year ago.  Formerly, I was a project engineer in the Crew and Thermal Systems Division at NASA – Johnson Space Center.  I currently work as the contractor Sustaining Engineering Lab Manager in the Avionic Systems Division.

SciCheer: Which team(s) did you cheer for and when?

Summer: Houston Texans – 2005, 2006, 2007

[Meet Summer and a dozen other Science Cheerleaders--procheerleaders-turned-scientist--as they perform live at the U.S.A. Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., Oct 23-24. Then, back at the Science Cheerleader/Going Pro Entertainment exhibit, get their autographs and hear first-hand how they bridged two seemingly different worlds. Interested sponsors should contact darlene@sciencecheerleader.com.]

A friend’s daughter, pictured here, created this lovely prom gown using Duct Tape. That’s right, Duct Tape. Now through June 7th, prom-goers are invited to send in pictures of their creative duct tape gowns or suits to win scholarship money as part of the Stuck at Prom contest, sponsored by DuckBrand in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

Yes, she did indeed wear this to the prom!

Say wha? Check out Fairytale Fashion where technology is used “to turn make-believe into reality”.  It’s a project former Project Runway participant Diana Eng is working on these days. It’s an “interactive, web-enabled effort to create a collection of magical clothing in real life, replete with blooming flowers, transforming shapes and changing colors”.

In this installment of MotherboardTV, the “fashion geek” demonstrates how easily technology can be incorporated into fashion and she shares a secret about Victoria’s Secret’s bust-enhancing, “smart fabric”. Check it out.

Are you a 30 year-old male with the physical building skills to design inventions and create amazing gadgets?

If so, you are not me. In addition, you may be perfect for the cast of a new engineering TV show that aims to solve occupational and domestic problems for everyday people. The creators are look for candidates with big ideas and even bigger personalities — someone with a wry sense of humor and the passion to overcome engineering challenges.

Visit GotCast.com by February 15!

Judy Lee’s dream job lets her design everything from toys to pet products AND she gets to bring her dog to work. Learn more about women in engineering at EngineerYourLife.org.

Designing housing that is affordable for city dwellers is challenging enough, even without considering green building standards.  However, the National Engineer’s Week Foundation is asking junior high school kids to design energy-efficient urban environments in this year’s Future City competition.  Now entering its 18th year, the Future City Competition invites seventh and eighth graders nationwide to create the cities of tomorrow, encouraging their interest in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on applications.

This year’s challenge, entitled “Providing An Affordable Living Space For People Who Have Lost Their Home Due to a Disaster or Financial Emergency”, will require students to design an energy-efficient city using SimCity 4 Deluxe software and then build a model of their virtual city using recycled materials.  Each team is also required to write a research paper that describes the rationale behind their designs, as well as a second narrative that outlines the key features of their city. The registration deadline for this year’s regional and national competitions is October 31, 2009, but interested students can register early in order to obtain an information handbook over the summer.  This is a school-based competition, so interested students will need to obtain the support from their local school’s administration.  Registration costs are low ($25.00), so schools and students would mainly be responsible for the cost of the SimCity 4 Deluxe software (ranging from $14.99 – $43.99 on Amazon.com, though I assume an academic license might be available) and travel to the competition sites.

Also, former scientists and engineers can volunteer to mentor teams of students as they design their city.  This would be a great way for retirees to get involved in a local classroom near home and share all of their expertise!  Interested mentors can contact local schools directly to see if there is an interest in the Future City competition, or sign up here.