History

History

The QCESC is in its 61st year of operation and annually sponsors events such as the STEM Celebration, Engineering, Scientist, and Computing Professional of The Year Awards, STEM Teacher of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, scholarships to local high school students,  and provides judges and volunteers for the local STEM activities including FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, QC Tech Challenge (Bridge Building, Egg Trebuchet, and Cardboard Boat Regatta), and the Kids Engineering Camp.

The Quad-City Engineering and Science Council got its start in 1963. Several program chairman from various societies met in 1962 to discuss a joint meeting to celebrate National Engineers Week sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).A committee was formed, consisting of representatives from ASME, NSPE, SAME, SME, and others. The committee’s intention was to focus the public’s attention on the importance of the contributions that the engineering and science community make to society. Billboards were purchased and TV and radio shows interviewed prominent engineers from the Quad-Cities. A press party was held and the first Quad-City Engineers Week Banquet took place in 1963 at the Masonic Temple with the Governors of Iowa and Illinois, state legislators, five mayors, and members for thirteen technical societies participating, for an attendance of one thousand people. The Engineers Week Banquet became an annual event in the Quad-Cities and the Joint Engineers Council became a reality as its sponsor.In 1981, the Joint Engineers Council became incorporated as a non-profit organization called the Quad-City Engineering and Science Council.