DCEE: Discover Civil & Environmental Engineering

Spend a week exploring MIT, meeting other freshmen, CEE upperclassmen and faculty, competing in an extreme engineering build-project, and learning a few things about Civil and Environmental Engineering at the same time!

Participate in DCEE and make your first week at MIT one you never forget. Through site-visits, demonstrations (breaking steel, anyone?), and short-seminars, you will learn more about the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, meet some of the faculty, and discover some of the exciting things engineers can do at MIT, especially in CEE. And of course, DCEE does know how to kick back, relax, and enjoy the last week of summer; there will be plenty of food, a trip to the beach, and lots of chances to explore MIT and Boston.

The main focus of the week will be a fun Civil and Environmental Engineering building project, allowing you to explore creative design and construction. You will split into completing teams led by undergraduate CEE students who will act as mentors throughout the week. To cap it all off, you will get a chance show off your projects and compete for fabulous prizes and the coveted title of DCEE 2009 Champs.

To learn more about DCEE and meet the staff, visit http://cee.mit.edu/dcee.

Quotes from former DCEE participants when asked “Why DCEE?”

 “I had a great time last year as a freshman with the program!”

“DCEE is so much fun!!!!  Be prepared for long days that are super packed and extremely fun.”

“… because I love the environment.  It’s delicious.”

“DCEE was one of the best weeks that I’ve ever had at MIT… It not only provided an in-depth exposure to civil and environmental engineering, but I had the chance to interact with faculty, upperclassmen, and develop long-lasting friendships with other participants.”

“Course 1 is awesome because we save the world from evil things! DCEE is awesome because it's fun and you get to build stuff!”

Extreme Engineering

… Not engineering as you’ve seen it before.

This year, DCEE will be focusing on engineering projects that are… well maybe a little different from those you’ve seen before. Whether it’s designing a bridge that can cross the Bering Strait and withstand the cold and ice, or finding ways to halt climate change on a global scale, the face of civil and environmental engineering is changing as we tackle bigger and more creative projects.

The building project this year will give you a hands-on taste of extreme engineering. We don’t want to give away too much about this year’s competition, but we will tell you that the teams will be competing to design and build the best Bering Strait bridges out of balsa wood.

We’ll also be focusing on cutting-edge environmental projects and learning about some of the more unconventional ways engineers are proposing to solve the global warming crisis. Then, we’ll be getting “down and dirty” with an environmental engineering site visit where you will experience what engineers do in the field.

DCEE Specifics

Dates: Tuesday, August 25 through Saturday, August 29
Place: Freshman will live in their assigned dormitories on campus.
Available Spaces: 25
Cost: No charge.