Sponsored by the American Society for Engineering Education, practical industry workshops on Oct. 20 are open to the public.

Worcester, MA October 02, 2013

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will host the 68th Annual Midyear Conference of the American Society of Engineering Education's (ASEE) Engineering Design Graphics Division Oct. 20-23, 2013. The conference, which focuses on new developments and new technologies for teaching computer-aided design and the application of graphics in engineering, design, and technology, takes place in the Higgins Laboratories building on the WPI campus. It is open to faculty, staff, and students at colleges, universities, and junior and community colleges from the United States and overseas.

The interplay between simulation software and geometric models will be a focus of this year's conference, said Holly Ault, associate professor of mechanical engineering at WPI, who is conference site chair. "Simulation software depends on the data created by geometric models," she said. "This means geometric models are at the center of today's design work and must be created with design intent, manufacturing, and cost efficiency in mind."

The conference begins on Sunday, Oct. 20, with a series of workshops by companies that produce engineering graphics software. The sessions, which are open to the general public at a cost of $40 per session (subject to space availability), will be taught by representatives of CADENAS PARTsolutions ("Engineer Smarter: Secrets to Streamlining the Design Process Using PARTsolutions with CAD in the Educational Environment"), Autodesk Inc. ("The Changing Face of Engineering Graphics"), PTC Inc. ("Reinventing a Traditional CAD Curriculum"), and SolidWorks Corp. ("Prototype Your Designs with Intelligence and Confidence Using SolidWorks Simulation").

An interactive media showcase and reception on Sunday evening will feature presentations titled "Using Multimedia Online Learning Tools to Supplement the Classroom Instruction" and "Drafting Project with Design Intent to Improve the Application of Dimensioning Specifications." On Monday and Tuesday, participants will attend technical sessions on spatial visualization, modeling strategies and design intent, assessment techniques, graphic course content, management courses, and the evolution of graphics. Tuesday will conclude with a tour of Nypro's manufacturing plant in Clinton, Mass., and a reception and awards banquet at the Worcester Art Museum.

Founded in 1928, the Engineering Design Graphics Division is the oldest division within ASEE. Its mission is to promote teaching, research, discussion, and communication of engineering design graphics.

Additional information about the conference and an online registration form for the full conference and the Sunday workshops can be found here.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI was one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. There are more than 35 WPI project centers throughout North America and Central America, Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe.