Developing a Transportation Science Competition and Career Fair for Junior High and High School Students

With the dilemma of a challenged transportation workforce looming on the horizon, it is crucial that universities take a pro-active role in providing transportation professionals for the 21st century with the necessary tools to perform their roles within the industry. One way in which universities can provide these tools is through education and training. By exposing young students to transportation and the vast array of educational and career opportunities awaiting them, universities can increase the potential work force for the future. In turn, those young students who seek transportation as a career can work to maintain the complex transportation infrastructure in place and ensure mobility and prosperity for the future. A transportation science competition was hosted by the Texas Transportation Institute on the Texas A&M University campus. The competition provided outstanding junior high and high school students an opportunity to present research findings and ideas in a professional arena. Students who excelled in science and mathematics and enjoy academic competition were be targeted for participation.