Cummins Inc. last week launched a new initiative designed to motivate and inspire students to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The new initiative kicked off this weekend with a grassroots effort called the “Brickworld Build Team.”
The Brickworld Build Team consists of middle school STEM students and teachers from three Chicagoland area schools and Cummins engineers coming together to build a 4-foot by 3-foot by 2-foot LEGO® replica of Cummins’ newest and largest high-horsepower diesel engine — the QSK95. The replica engine was built with approximately 30,000 LEGOs on Saturday at Brickworld, a LEGO® enthusiast convention at the Westin Chicago North Shore hotel.
“Our Brickworld STEM initiative will help connect Cummins engineers with STEM students and their families through interactive play and discovery,” said Richard Whitney, global employment brand leader at Cummins. “We know that engineers of all ages love playing with LEGO® models so we created this program as a unique way to connect STEM students with our engineer role models.”
Students currently learning about fundamental problem-solving and critical-thinking skills taught in STEM curriculum will use their understanding to build 40 different LEGO® modules that combine to create the replica engine. Project Lead The Way, a leading provider of STEM education curricular programs, partnered with Cummins to help connect the students and teachers to the event. Additionally, the Cummins Interactive Play Area at Brickworld includes areas of free form LEGO® bricks where families and children can collaborate together to build their own unique creations.
“Although we design and develop power technology every day, we still like to have fun and give back based on our talents, not just our time,” said Whitney. “The replica engine will also be built at our world headquarters in Columbus, Indiana, on college campuses and at diversity career fairs throughout the year.”
Cummins Inc. is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems.
