IEEE-USA Disaster Relief Vehicle Featured at Cary, N.C., Event This Saturday

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IEEE-USA (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Apr 21, 2016, 04:31 ET

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The IEEE-USA MOVE disaster relief vehicle will be showcased at Hopewell Academy in Cary, N.C., this Saturday 23 April from 1:30 to 4 p.m. It will be the first STEM education event for the truck since it went into operation in March.

"We're excited to show young and old how important engineering advances are in our daily lives," former Region 3 Director and MOVE Program Director Mary Ellen Randall said. "We hope to excite the next generation of engineering and technology workers with MOVE."

Short for "Mobile Outreach Vehicle," MOVE is designed to travel to communities hit hard by natural disasters and infrastructure failures to provide rechargeable power banks, real-time survivor information and Wi-Fi until regular electricity and data services can be restored.

Victims of Superstorm Sandy said losing the ability to communicate with family and friends because of dead cell phone batteries was tough to cope with after the hurricane.

"They'll be able to at least communicate with loved ones, and they won't have all these feelings of isolation and loneliness," Randall said during a recent interview with Colonel Mason of the ScienceNews Radio Network. "They'll know whether they should go or stay, things they felt were important to their safety."

Saturday's event (101 Preston Executive Dr. in Cary) is sponsored by IEEE-USA, The Forge Initiative and Hopewell Academy. Other featured exhibits include:

Talking humanoid robot Ken (sponsored by the IEEE Foundation)
3D printing demonstrations
Tours of The Forge Initiative activities taking place Saturday
Town of Cary Emergency Response Team and fire truck
Tours of Hopewell Academy

More on MOVE

The MOVE vehicle is the centerpiece of the IEEE-USA MOVE Community Outreach program, which includes a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) education component. When not deployed to a disaster zone, the truck travels to places such as schools, libraries, fairs and sports events to raise awareness about the social impact advanced technologies can have.

The American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region is partnering with IEEE-USA on the MOVE program. To donate to, volunteer for, or find out more about this initiative visit move.ieeeusa.org and www.facebook.com/ieeeusamove/.

About the Forge Initiative

The Forge Initiative is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit focusing on engaging families and individuals of all ages in hands-on STE(Art)M education and community engagement.

About Hopewell Academy

Hopewell Academy is a private university prep school for grades 6 - 12 in Cary, N.C., since 2004. The school features an international student body, with opportunities for students in arts, athletics, robotics, sciences, and more in a challenging and supportive environment.

About the IEEE Foundation

As the philanthropic arm of IEEE, the IEEE Foundation inspires the generosity of donors so it may enable IEEE programs that enhance technology access, literacy and education, as well as support the IEEE professional community. It is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization

About IEEE-USA

IEEE-USA serves the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of nearly 200,000 engineering, computing and technology professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE.

Web: www.ieeeusa.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ieeeusa
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ieeeusa
Benefits of IEEE membership: www.ieee.org/join

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SOURCE IEEE-USA (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)