E-Week is designed to increase public awareness and appreciation of the positive contributions engineers make to the quality of life. IBM and E-Week founder, the National Society of Professional Engineers, are co-chairing this year's event, which now includes more than 100 engineering, scientific and educational societies and major corporations. IEEE-USA, as a steering committee member, will once again play a key role in the week's activities. It also will be the lead society for E-Week 2004.

To help increase the number of women engineers, the first "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" legacy project is set for 22 Feb. Current women engineers -- which make up nine percent of the engineering profession -- are encouraged to serve as mentors and role models.

"It's a wonderful idea," said Catherine Jordan, IEEE Washington Section chair, "and I think it's an excellent program."

For the past seven to eight years she has spoken to middle school girls about engineering.

"I try to foster a continued interest in math and science," she said. "If we don't continue that interest at the middle-school level, I think it's a lot more difficult to regain that ground."

Also to debut during E-Week is "A Sightseer's Guide to Engineering." This Web-based travel guide will help vacationers incorporate well- and little-known U.S. engineering wonders into their itineraries. Members are encouraged to submit sites to "www.eweek.org/nspe/engineeringsights/" for consideration, particularly those with which visitors can interact.

To encourage the next generation of engineers, the Future City Competition National Finals will be held 20-21 Feb. in Washington, D.C. The event brings together 21 of the 26 regional-winning teams of 7th and 8th graders who created their own vision of a city of tomorrow, working first on computer and then constructing three-dimensional scale models. More than 30,000 students are expected to participate.

"IEEE-USA played an important role in the creation of the Future City Competition when it served as lead society for National Engineers Week in 1993," said Future City Competition National Coordinator Carol Rieg. "It continues to play a significant role in the promotion and organization of the program in seven regions across the country."

IEEE-USA will judge and present an award at the national finals for best communications system. Visit "www.futurecity.org".