BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Dozens of Western New York high school students are expected to compete against each other during an engineering contest Saturday, May 19, at the University at Buffalo.

The event, which runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is dubbed BEAM TREK 2012. It will focus on alternative energy and energy efficiency, two areas of research the university specializes in. For more information, visit www.buffalo.edu/sustainability.

At least a dozen teams of four to five students each will race around UB's North Campus where they'll encounter scientific and mathematical challenges.

"They'll be doing hands-on tasks in addition to answering questions posed by UB faculty members," said Jennifer Zirnheld, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at UB, who helped organize BEAM TREK 2012.

Event details are being withheld (until the day of) to not influence results.

BEAM stands for Buffalo-area Engineering Awareness for Minorities. The contest is designed to encourage minorities and females to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In addition to mingling with UB faculty, students will have the chance to earn scholarships. Also, the winning team will be crowned "Buffalo's Best Engineering Team of the Future."

For more information about BEAM TREK, visit www.eng.buffalo.edu/beam/trek/2012 or call Marilyn Helenbrook, director of educational opportunity programs in UB's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, at 716-645-3066.