Honeywell and SAE International have expanded their Honeywell/SAE Student Automotive Design Challenge (SADC) to include schools from eight countries and more than 400 students.

This program, piloted last year, is designed to engage students, ages 11-14, in hands-on math and science training to enable students to actively discover how these subjects relate to their everyday lives, while uncovering potential career opportunities.

The SADC program uses the A World In Motion(R) curriculum, which was developed by the SAE Foundation and won the National Science Foundation's prestigious 2008 Public Service Award. The program integrates science, math, technology, social studies and language arts by assigning students to a mock corporation to research, design, test and build electric gear-driven toy cars.

Students work in design teams of four to build a vehicle and write proposals, draw sketches, model designs and develop plans that meet the specific set of design requirements identified in market research. Students share their results with their international peers via an online forum, designed to directly connect students at a global level.

This year, the program will reach more than 400 students in eight countries, including China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Switzerland and the U.S.

The program kicked-off the week of Aug. 31 and ends the week of Nov. 13. The global winner will be announced the week of Dec. 7.

"Honeywell developed the Student Automotive Design Challenge to get students excited about science and math, to encourage them to solve problems, achieve objectives, develop important educational skills, and gain confidence," says Joe Toubes, Vice President, Communications for Honeywell Transportation Systems. "Our hope is that students will develop a life-long interest in engineering. We need talented innovators to find new and better ways to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, not just for our company but for our world."

"We are pleased to again be partnering with Honeywell on the Student Automotive Design Challenge," states Matthew Miller, Director, SAE Foundation and Pre-College Programs. "Issues such as the rising cost of energy and increasing environmental concerns impact the entire world and demand global solutions. By engaging these students, we can help give them the knowledge and tools they need to understand why science and math skills are important and how they can help create positive and lasting change."

For more information, visit www.sae.org.