Nearly 300 high school students from around New York’s Capital Region will visit the Rensselaer campus to attend National Manufacturing Day program on Friday, Oct. 14. This marks the fifth year that Rensselaer has participated in the event, which aims to inspire young people to pursue careers in technology and advanced manufacturing. The opening program will be held in the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) Theater, beginning at 9 a.m.
Prior to the start of the program, members of the campus and local community are invited to view the 7:15 a.m. arrival of the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter (weather permitting) on ’86 Field. The helicopter will be on display until 1 p.m. In addition, a Snap-On Advanced Technology Lab truck and New York State National Guard tent will be set up at the east end of the ’86 Field from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This year, Ryan Patry ’00, who serves as manager of manufacturing technology for the manufacturing engineering at Sikorsky Aircraft, will deliver the keynote address. Patry will use his time on stage to speak about his experiences in manufacturing, and the importance of the innovative and versatile field in terms of the current national climate and future generations.
Labs Tours Will Include:
• Center for Automation Technologies and Systems (CATS)
• School of Architecture Fabrication Shop
• Biomedical Prototype Fabrication Studio
• Nano-M3 Design Lab
• Micro and Nano Fabrication Clean Room
• Haas Technical Center
• Additive Manufacturing Lab
Following the closing ceremony, high school students will have the opportunity to visit several labs that focus on Rensselaer manufacturing initiatives. Labs include: the Center for Automation Technologies and Systems (CATS), School of Architecture Fabrication Shop, the Biomedical Prototype Fabrication Studio, Nano-M3 Design Lab, the Micro and Nano Fabrication Clean Room, Haas Technical Center, and the Additive Manufacturing Lab. The students will also visit the leading-edge Manufacturing Innovation Learning Lab (MILL), where Rensselaer students showcase their manufacturing projects. In addition, students will have an opportunity to meet and learn from Rensselaer student clubs and other organizations.
The School of Engineering planned the university’s National Manufacturing Day events, with support from Sikorsky Aircraft, Snap-On, the Center for Economic Growth, the Chief Executives Network for Manufacturing of the Capital Region, New York State National Guard, and Society of Manufacturing Engineers, as well as the Rensselaer MILL and the CATS.
In addition, the city of Troy has played a large part in promoting and supporting National Manufacturing Day throughout the Capital Region. Read about Troy Manufacturing Week.