"Cibola" -- An award winning Future City

ABSTRACT: 

The students who created "Cibola", which is set in year 2237, won the New York (Albany) regional Future City competition in January of this year and recently went on to win the ninth-annual IEEE-USA Best Communications System Award at the National Engineers Week Future City Competition National Finals held in Washington, D.C. last month. The Farnsworth team, represented by students Zubin Mukerjee, Abigail Schooner and Joseph Sipzner, was recognized for the most "efficient and accurate communications system". The team was mentored by civil engineer Robert Sipzner, PE, and Tom McGreevy, the school's technology education teacher.

A hand-held "Personal Education Device", or PED, is the featured element of the cities communications system, as designed by the Farnsworth team. The PED utilized a contact lens to reconstruct important event into a video to help students learn. In addition, students can go on virtual field trips through holographic imaging, allowing youngsters to transport themselves virtually anywhere in the world.

The judges selected Farnsworth from among 38 regional championship teams from around the U.S. that had competed at the finals.

There will be a brief introduction of the Future City competition by Tom McGreevy and then the students are eager to tell us all about their ideas and what they learned about engineering. Many of these students are interested in pursuing engineering careers and are looking forward to presenting to us.

Please come support and congratulate our local students and future engineers!

DIRECTIONS: 

The church is located just west of the intersection of Rosendale/Vly Rd and Rt. 7, on the corner of Niskayuna Rd and Rt. 7. There is plenty of parking, accessible from either Rt. 7 or Niskayuna Rd. The meeting will be in the large white meeting hall next to the church. Enter through the large glass doors at the lower level. Please note that there is no smoking allowed anywhere on the church grounds.

Map to Niskayuna Reformed Church
NOTE: Valley Road = Vly Road

LUNCH: 
Lunch is provided.

RESERVATIONS:  
Please contact Lou Tomaino at schdyieee (at) yahoo.com by Monday, March 30, 2009 at 9:00 AM to reserve. This event is free for IEEE members, $5.00 for non-members to help cover the cost of the room.

Please be courteous and cancel your reservation if you cannot attend so that we have a chance to adjust the food order and seating.

Sponsored by the Schenectady Section of the IEEE.