A.C. Gilbert’s Rocket Launcher Set, 1960 Dave Frieder

Do you remember when the engineering bug bit you? Did curiosity sluice down the sunny-side of a skyscraper, or beckon you from across the span of a bridge? Wherever it began, many engineers and architects got their first shot at “building” courtesy A.C. Gilbert, the creator of the Gilbert Erector Set. “With his toys, Gilbert hoped to combine fun with an understanding and appreciation of science. Gilbert realized that a child needed playthings that would encourage creative expression and satisfy a natural curiosity about the world,” according to ACGilbert.org.

For a trip down memory lane, check out the Structural Engineering & Design Online Exclusive, “Blast from the past: Gilbert Erector Sets,” for photos and details on some classic sets, thanks to one of our favorite engineering connoisseurs, Dave Frieder. Visit www.gostructural.com for the story.

Continuing education online
Stagnito Media’s Continuing Education portal is now live at www.stagnitomedia.com/cedu This new platform offers civil engineers the following convenient features:

• Take free or paid courses to earn professional development hours.
• Create an account once, then just enter a username and password to return to the platform.
• Read courses online, or download courses as PDF files to study offline.
• Take quizzes online and have them graded immediately. If you pass, a certificate is made available immediately for printing or downloading.
• The Continuing Education portal includes a history of quizzes taken (and a copy of the certificates), so users can keep track of their progress.