Early intro to engineering makes the world a better place

Randy Bachman, a Future City mentor for the Iowa Region, is entering his 17th year with the Future City Competition. Randy began as a judge in 1999 and then in 2008, Randy’s daughters competed in the Iowa Future City Competition and he made the switch to mentoring local teams. “I’ve seen a number of creative ideas from students while working as a mentor. Some of the ideas include cities that go hand-in-hand with the environment, combining waste and food production, and hydroponic systems.”

Randy believes that is it critical for everyone to give back to their community and says, “Future City is a great program in which to do so because the kids love the program, and they also learn a great deal.” As a mentor, Randy says, “I never tell the students too much about the project. I prefer to let them come up with the ideas on their own. It is always great watching them figure it out for themselves. The kids grow right before your eyes.”

Randy is a proponent of teaching kids about engineering early and says, “Engineering is a critical area of study for students because everything you learn can be put to use in the real world. If you have an engineering background, you will always be able to find a job. Engineers help make the world a better and safer place.”