Fueling the engineering spirit: AUS Civil Engineering Boot Camp motivates young talent

Nineteen young engineers from 12 UAE schools recently joined the immersive Civil Engineering Boot Camp at American University of Sharjah (AUS). Hosted recently by the Department of Civil Engineering, the camp showcased the multidisciplinary nature of civil engineering and its crucial role in shaping the future.

Through hands-on experiences, students explored various aspects of the field, including GPS and 3D laser scanning, geographic information systems with 3D models from drones, computer aided drafting, open channel flow, geotechnical analysis, and structural and construction materials.

”The boot camp is an opportunity to learn about the amazing world of civil engineering, visit and run experiments in our state-of-the-art labs, and know more about several civil engineering specializations," said Dr. Sameh El-Sayegh, Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at AUS.

The highly anticipated BBQ stick tower competition displayed the students' remarkable creativity and skills. They were tasked with constructing the tallest and most stable tower using limited materials such as BBQ sticks and marshmallows.

In a display of outstanding engineering skills and seamless teamwork, Maha Alsaman from Al Maarifa International School, Marya Aburukba from Sama American Private School and Noor Yaseen from Emirates National School emerged as the first-place winners. 

Securing the second place were Ameera Alzarooni from Alwahda Private School, Naama Alawadi from Emirates National School, Nour Buzinjal from Emirates National School Sharjah and Sara Mohamed from Al Wahda Private School, who demonstrated exceptional abilities and collaborative spirit. 

In the third-place, Joudy Elesawy and Malak Naaman from GEMS Cambridge and Talal Abumarasa from Canadian International School showcased their dedication and skills in civil engineering through their outstanding performance and innovative designs.

"The boot camp was enjoyable and highly useful. It sparked my interest in civil engineering, motivating me to pursue it as my future field of study," expressed Hussam Alfalahi from Alshola Private School (Alfalah).

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 (202​3​). 

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