My name is Dan Bernhardt.   I’m a technical writer on the App-V team at the Microsoft New England R&D Center.  I’m responsible for creating user documentation as well as other tools to help IT administrators get their jobs done.  When I’m not writing I enjoy running and coaching youth soccer.

Recently, I spent two wonderful mornings helping out at the Boston Museum of Science with National Engineers Week.  Working with a group of volunteers from companies such as IBM, Google, and of course Microsoft, as well as other organizations we helped museum staff run a program called Design Challenges.  Design challenges are simple activities where kids of all ages and adults are encouraged to build model bobsleds and boats that are then raced against the clock.  The fastest, and slowest times are recorded and posted on the screen for everyone at the museum to see.  We didn’t just measure speed we also measured how much “treasure” each model boat could carry.  Having the opportunity to work with other great volunteers, staff member s as well as the “engineers of tomorrow” was incredibly rewarding.

The Museum of Science has many volunteer opportunities and if you would like more information about how to get involved please let me know and I’d be happy to share what I know!