Dream Big: a look into wild imaginings made real

NATIONAL FILM STOPS IN DENVER

Engineering is one of the most coveted and in-demand jobs nationally, according to Forbes magazine. It’s also one of the hardest work forces to enter because of the competition.

As difficult as engineering may seem-since it’s based in high-tensity math and science-it’s still fun and innovative, and most importantly, incredibly needed. Every building, road, and major infrastructure is created by civil engineers.

The American Society of Civil Engineering is a national group that honors and represents civil engineers. The group acted as a producing partner in the new film Dream Big: Engineering Our World, released Feb. 17, which students can watch at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science through April.

The film highlights the great work that up-and-coming and professional civil engineers have done globally. The 45-minute film tried to encapsulate the sheer amount of work that civil engineers put into their projects and how they’ve not only built beautiful buildings, but also useful infrastructures.

Vice President of ASCE for the Colorado chapter and Civil and Structural Designer at Gannett Fleming Aimee Corn found her passion for the craft of engineering by way of catastrophe. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Corn travelled to New Orleans to do volunteer work and was inspired to prevent similar infrastructures from being ruined by nature.

Corn helped to host an event Feb. 18 at the Museum of Nature and Science to get kids involved and excited about engineering, hoping to inspire some to pursue this career in the future.

“There’s a lot of aspects of engineering that have an impact on our everyday lives,” Corn said. “It opens their eyes.”

From watching an engineer work in Haiti with a large group of volunteers to build a foot bridge to watching a team of high school students beat MIT in an underwater robot contest, the event was inspiring for many.

“It’s not all about money,” Corn said. “You do have to think creatively. It’s a lot about problem-solving.”

With a red carpet and other fun events throughout the weekend, youngsters were able to get excited about science and technology, while learning how applying themselves in the classroom will help them in the real world.

“It reminded me why I got into engineering in the first place,” Corn said. “It’s not all about deadlines and due dates. There is a bigger picture.”

Civil Engineering student and ASCE secretary Philip Taylor watched the film and was one of several CU Denver students who volunteered at the sponsored event Saturday night, encouraging kids to get excited.

“The night was an opportunity to expose the kids to civil engineering, to give them an opportunity to do hands on civil engineering,” Taylor said. “They are the future thinkers and creators.”

Taylor, who is pursuing his second Bachelor’s degree after finding out his passion wasn’t journalism, found the film as another reason to continue his academic pursuits.

“It made me inspired to see these magnificent structures on the big screen,” Taylor said.

For more information about the film and to check out showtimes, visit dmns.org.