AUS Civil Engineering Boot Camp inspires young engineers to build the future

Aspiring young engineers got a taste of what it takes to build the world we live in through the Civil Engineering Boot Camp held recently by the Department of Civil Engineering at American University of Sharjah (AUS). The Boot Camp saw the enthusiastic participation of 12 students from seven schools across the UAE, who were given hands-on experience and a glimpse into the multidisciplinary nature of the civil engineering field.

The Boot Camp was packed with exciting activities such as computer-aided drafting, transportation simulation, and geographic information systems. They also witnessed demonstrations and experiments in construction materials, lab structures and geotechnical lab/wastewater treatment.

According to Dr. Sameh El-Sayegh, Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at AUS, "The Mini Boot Camp was an excellent opportunity for young students to experience the joys of civil engineering. It was inspiring to see their enthusiasm and interest in the field. Our goal was to provide them with a fun-filled and engaging experience that would help ignite their passion for engineering and inspire them to pursue careers in the field.”

Among the highlights of the day was the BBQ stick tower competition where students competed against each other to build the tallest and most stable tower using limited materials including BBQ sticks and marshmallows. 

Dr. Rami Hawileh, Professor in Civil Engineering and chair of the boot camp organizing committee, spoke about the active participation of the students and their interest in exploring the use of new technologies in civil engineering infrastructures and superstructures. “We have seen how excited the students were as they participated in hands-on experiments in our labs and while working on the competition. Our camp aimed to widen students' horizons and give them a better understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of the civil engineering field. The feedback we got was great and we look forward to continuing to hold this camp on a regular basis," he said. 

The competition witnessed incredible designs and teamwork from the students applying engineering principles in designing structures.

Taher Burhanpurwala and Shriya Nambiar from Delhi Private School Sharjah, Sana Glover from Pa Cyber Charter School and Ameiya Wankhede from The Elite English School emerged as winners in the BBQ stick tower competition demonstrating the practical applications of civil engineering concepts taught during the camp.

“The hands-on activities, such as the geotechnical lab and the transportation simulation, were really interesting and helped me understand the different aspects of civil engineering," said Glover.

The event aimed to inspire young students to pursue careers in engineering and widen their horizons in the field. 

The Department of Civil Engineering is recognized throughout the region for the exceptional education it offers through its undergraduate and graduate programs. AUS is ranked number one (tied) in the UAE and among the top 200 universities globally for civil and structural engineering, according to QS World University Subject Rankings (2023).

For more information about the Department of Civil Engineering and what it has to offer, visit www.aus.edu/cen/ce.