2026 Engineers Week (E Week)
Why Mines?
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49 years at South Dakota Mines
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Tuesday, February 17
STEAM Cafe: Kari Byron
Television Host | Producer | Curiosity Curator | Entrepreneur
6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Surbeck Center, Beck Ballroom (Mines campus)
Kari Byron is a pioneering television host and STEM advocate best known for her decade-long role on Discovery Channel's "MythBusters" (2004-2014), where she became the longest-running female presenter in the channel's history. As part of "The Build Team," she helped transform how audiences engage with science through explosive experiments and rigorous testing. Her television credits also include hosting and producing Netflix's "White Rabbit Project," Science Channel's "Punkin Chunkin," "Head Rush," and Travel Channel's "Thrill Factor," cementing her reputation as a curiosity curator.
Today, Byron channels her passion for education as co-founder of EXPLR, a groundbreaking educational streaming platform, and Director-Founder of the National STEM Festival, which partners with the US Department of Education. Recently, Byron (along with MythBusters alum Tory Belleci) has launched the "Mythfits" podcast. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in film and sculpture, Byron is also the author of "Crash Test Girl" and maintains an active presence as a speaker and advocate, continuing her mission to make science accessible and exciting for new generations.
Engineering & Science Day
Thursday, February 19
Various department faculty and student organizations across campus will host presentations and demonstrations geared toward 6-12 grade students. Visiting groups will need to be split into groups of 15-20 students (must have one chaperone per group) and will rotate through five presentations throughout the morning. Students may bring sack lunches to eat at the lunchtime concert or order lunch from Dining Services by calling (605) 394-2483 at least two weeks in advance.
Register HERE!
Schedule
Check-In
8:15 a.m., King Center
Welcome
8:30 a.m., Goodell Gym, King Center
Department Tours &Chemistry Magic Shows
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Campus Wide
Lunchtime Music Concert
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., Music Center
NASA Presentation
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., Surbeck Center Ballroom
Museum of Geology Hours
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., O'Harra Building
If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Skea at (605) 394-2420 or Rachel.Skea@sdsmt.edu.
Order of the Engineer Ceremony
Friday, February 20
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Theapplicationfor induction is now available to download, or you can apply and pay online here! Return your completed application and ring fee to the President's Office (O'Harra
215). Either way you choose to apply, please visit the President's Office to be sized
for your ring.
Any engineering senior graduating in May, August, or December 2026, or practicing
engineer who has not yet been inducted, may submit an application for induction into
the Order. The Order fosters a spirit of responsibility and pride in the profession
of engineering. The initiates will be presented the traditional stainless steel ring
and a certificate of membership. The cost for your ring is $15.00. Applicants must
attend the ceremony to be inducted into the Order.
For more information on the Order of the Engineer, please visit:http://www.order-of-the-engineer.org/
If you have any questions or concerns or need to purchase a replacement ring ($20.00), please contact (605) 394-2257 or president@sdsmt.edu.
MathCounts
Saturday, February 21
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
MathCounts is one of the most successful education partnerships involving volunteers, educators, industry sponsors and students. This local contest is for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students of the South Dakota West River area schools. Sponsored by the South Dakota Engineering Society, Black Hills Chapter. For information and registration, contact Mike Nelson at mike.r.nelson@gmail.com.
For more information on the National MathCounts:
https://www.mathcounts.org/
