Already active in a number of education initiatives, Intel Corp. is launching an aggressive campaign to educate kids about technology during National Engineers Week (2/22-2/26).

Last year, Intel sent nearly 1,400 volunteer employees into 2,000 classrooms around the country to talk with students from kindergarten through high school. This year Intel is raising the bar, sending out fab engineers, software gurus and top managers, such as Mike Splinter, senior vice president and general manager of the Technology and Manufacturing Group.

"We want to get our people out to as many schools as we possibly can," said Splinter. "There's nothing like talking to somebody with experience." He is visiting seventh and eighth graders because he sees that as an important "transition point" when kids start making decisions about their careers.

"The message we want to make is that there really is a future in engineering and science," said Splinter, an MSEE who has served in fabs. "We're trying to put people in position to invent the future for our society," said Splinter. "If this opens up one kid's eyes, it will be worth it."

Other companies are also participating in corporate visits to schools throughout the country. Intel believes, though it can't prove it, that it has the largest contingent. Besides the Intel fanout, here are a few other events going on for National Engineers Week.

• The National Academy of Engineering is hosting an online discussion on women in engineering between 2 and 4 p.m. Tuesday (2/23).
• The National Engineering Design Challenge takes place Feb. 23-24 at the National Building Museum in Washington. Teams of students design, build and demonstrate a working model of a new product.
• And throughout the country, engineering groups will be holding events at banquets, in malls and in schools designed to honor and promote the profession. Engineers Week always takes place the week of George Washington's birthday because the first president-once a land surveyor-is considered one of the first American engineers.