Reality television isn’t just for oddball adults, celebrity couples, or those matching wits on a desert island. Now it’s also for tomorrow’s engineers—and the IEEE has been helping with funds for “Design Squad,” a new half-hour weekly television program. The IEEE Oregon Section has chimed in with help of its own.

Produced by WGBH Boston in partnership with the sponsors of U.S. National Engineers Week, “Design Squad” uses reality television to introduce children and their families to engineering design processes. The show features two competing teams of high school students and follows them as they design, build, and test fun yet practical machines such as an automatic pancake maker.

“Design Squad” is not for broadcast alone; the show’s cast and crew have been traveling around the United States, visiting middle schools and inviting students to participate in engineering challenges inspired by the show. IEEE members have been helping with that, too. When Senior Member Christopher A. Jacobs heard the “Design Squad” team would be visiting Hillsboro Middle School in Oregon, he says he knew he had to get involved. As public relations director for the IEEE Oregon Section, Jacobs contacted “Design Squad” and Intel Corp., cosponsor of the series, and offered to get IEEE members to help guide the students through the engineering projects. His offer was accepted.

“They liked the reassurance of local people supporting the project,” Jacobs says.

In April, nine section members brought their expertise to Intel’s Jones Farm Campus, in Hillsboro, where some 500 middle school students got a taste of engineering. The members answered questions, made suggestions, and added helping hands where needed. The students were divided into groups of five to build projects, which included a circuit made of household electrical parts and a high-rise tower made from paper and tape that supported a tennis ball while wind was blown on it.

To read an article Jacobs cowrote about “Design Squad” after the Hillsboro event, check out “Motivating Children to Become Engineers” at http://www.ieee-or.org/pre_college/Design_Squad_Visits_Portland.pdf.