The Automation Federation and International Society of Automation, along with Bishop State Community College, presented Automation Career Day Oct. 19 at the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile.

This mini-career fair, featuring a wealth of educational and industry displays, provided local high school students (grades 9-12) a unique opportunity to learn about, and experience first-hand, the many exciting careers in automation. Approximately 80 North Baldwin Center for Technology students attended.

During the Automation Career Day event, students participated in educational, informational, and interactive displays and learned how the displays apply to the real-world of automation. Students also had the opportunity to connect with various industry representatives to learn about exciting "cool jobs" in manufacturing automation.

The event and the displays stressed the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to their future endeavors. 

As an added bonus students listened to keynote speaker Callum Pearson, VP of Technical Show Support for Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil Inc. creates and produces touring shows, resident shows, and live music concerts, as well as live recordings, documentaries, TV series and films, and official soundtracks.

Pearson gave students vital facts on how automation is used to produce shows and concerts. The floor was then opened to students to ask questions.