KNOXVILLE, Tenn.–Celeste Baine, a biomedical engineer, director of the Engineering Education Service Center, and the award-winning author of over twenty books on engineering careers and education, will be a guest speaker at the College of Engineering’s Gala Celebration of 175 years of engineering instruction at the University of Tennessee on Friday, October 4, 2013.

The event caps off a full day of events, including the dedication of the John D. Tickle Engineering Building on Neyland Drive at 10:00 a.m., followed by a reception; open houses, demonstrations, and tours set up by all seven engineering departments beginning at 11:00 a.m.; and a networking lunch hosted by engineering student organizations as a fundraising effort to give alumni and guests an opportunity to meet engineering students. Also at noon on that Friday is a special luncheon celebrating the college’s Engineering Diversity Programs 40th anniversary. (Reservations required).

Baine won the Norm Augustine Award from the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). The Norm Augustine award is given to an engineer who has demonstrated the capacity for communicating the excitement and wonder of engineering. She also won the American Society for Engineering Education’s Engineering Dean Council’s Award for the Promotion of Engineering Education and Careers and is listed on the National Engineers Week website as one of fifty engineers you should meet. NAE has included Baine in their Gallery of Women Engineers, and the USA Science and Engineering Festival named her one of the “Nifty-Fifty” individuals who have made a major impact on the field of engineering. Last year, she wrote the training materials to help every K-12 teacher in the state of Oregon use the Engineering Design Process to enhance their teaching of science.

Baine’s presentation for the Gala, “The Wow! is Engineering” shows the creative power of engineering by revealing intriguing and exciting examples of engineering in action. She will draw from the ordinary to portray engineering as an extraordinary and achievable career option.

For more information on Baine and her engineering education activities.

The Gala will take place at the Knoxville Convention Center, and reservations are required. A reception will be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m., followed by dinner and the program at 7:00 p.m.

A video highlighting the college’s accomplishments through 175 years of engineering instruction at UT will also be part of the program.

The dedication ceremony, open houses, and tours are free and open to all UT faculty, staff, and students as well as the general public. Tickets for the 175 Years of Engineering at UT Gala are $25.00 and may be purchased online at volsconnect.com/175engr. For reservations for the 40th Anniversary Diversity Luncheon or other information, please contact Leah Buffington at (865) 974-5321. Parking, event, and hotel information is available.