MACON – Mercer University's School of Engineering Scholars will host a third Go Baby Go event on Oct. 28, 12:30-3:30 p.m., on University Center Intramural Court No. 3 to modify battery-powered toy cars for children with limited mobility.
Go Baby Go is a national, community-based research, design and outreach program begun in 2012 at the University of Delaware. Integrating assistive technology, families, clinicians and industry partners, the program helps provide children with disabilities the opportunity for movement, mobility and socialization.
The University held its first two events in December 2016 and March 2017.
Mercer students will build and modify cars to fit the specific needs of children in approximately 16 families. Four compact vehicles will be built to serve the mobility needs of children under 3 years of age and 10 mid-size vehicles will be modified to serve children between the ages of 3 and 7. In addition, a mid-size vehicle with foot-operated steering and an ATV-style vehicle that provides some physical therapy will be constructed.
The build event is supported by Dr. Sybil Keesbury in the Tift College of Education, Dr. Robert Watson in the Department of Technical Communication within the School of Engineering and Dr. Alyssa Fiss in the Department of Physical Therapy within the College of Health Professions. Lockheed Martin provided financial support for materials and supplies.
“The Engineering Scholars Track of the Mercer University Honors Program is excited about incorporating Go Baby Go builds as a thread through the track. Freshman, sophomore and senior Engineering Scholars will participate in builds every year,” said Dr. Phil McCreanor, professor of environmental engineering and director of the Engineering Scholars.
“The nature of Go Baby Go is a great fit for the School of Engineering, which has a history of client-based engineering design projects that serve community needs. Conducting these builds across the various academic levels of the Engineering Scholars Track provides an opportunity to show the freshman- and sophomore-level Engineering Scholars how engineers can use their skills to serve their community and also provide the senior Engineering Scholars with leadership opportunities as well as a connection back to the beginning of their engineering studies.”
For more information on Mercer's Engineering Scholars, visit engineering.mercer.edu/current/honors-program.cfm.
About the School of Engineering
Mercer University's School of Engineering, founded in 1985, offers innovative and academically challenging programs that provide students with a comprehensive education, featuring a solid foundation in mathematics and sciences, a core engineering curriculum, a range of courses in engineering specialties and a strong emphasis on communication technologies. The School is consistently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top three master's-degree-level engineering schools in the Southeast. Known for its breadth of instruction in its undergraduate program and its five-year joint bachelor's and master's degree program, the School combines technical education with hands-on laboratory experience. Mercer engineers can look forward to joining fellow alumni in companies such as Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Lockheed Martin, Georgia Power, Siemens and Gulfstream Aerospace.
