Fifth-graders at a Michigan intermediate school build and race balloon-powered toy cars to help them learn science concepts such as speed and friction. Besides that hands-on experience, the pupils benefit from having real engineers from General Motors Corp., the Detroit-based automotive giant, visit the school to help them run the toy car experiments.

What the fifth-graders might not realize is that the engineers have another agenda beyond toy car construction: They aim to infuse the class with enthusiasm for science and technology.

The engineers' real-life perspective is a significant component of A World in Motion -- a classroom curriculum developed by SAE International, a Marshall-based engineering industry association -- which is being utilized in more than 400 school districts in the United States and Canada. For its efforts to promote science and engineering education to children as early as kindergarten and through the college level, SAE is one of two recipients of the National Science Board's 2008 Public Service Award.

The other winner is Robinson-based Bayer Corp., which developed Making Science Make Sense, a program that also encourages science education through hands-on experiments and interaction with employee volunteers.

"It's an exciting coincidence" that both winners of the national award are from the Pittsburgh region, said Rebecca Lucore, executive director of the Bayer USA Foundation.

The National Science Board advises President Bush and members of Congress on science, engineering and education policy, and is the oversight board for the National Science Foundation. Past winners of its public service awards have included PBS' "Nova" series; the "Bill Nye the Science Guy" television series; "Earth & Sky" radio series; Craig Barrett, chairman of Intel Corp.; Alan Alda, actor and host of the PBS series "Scientific American Frontiers"; Jane Goodall, primatologist; and Oliver Sacks, neurologist and author of "Awakenings."

Raymond Morris, executive vice president and chief operating officer of SAE International, said the award was significant because "it is the highest award from the most important agency in the country" affiliated with science programs.

"For Bayer and SAE to be part of that is very impressive," said David Schutt, executive vice president and chief operating officer-elect at SAE, which provides continuing education, publications and standards for 115,000 members worldwide in the automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle industries.

Officials at both Bayer and SAE said their programs for schoolchildren address the issues of a lack of women in technical professions and the growing concern that the United States is losing an edge in science, engineering and math education to other countries, particularly in Asia.

"An active part of this is getting female role models and mentors" in front of pupils, said Mr. Schutt. One of the people featured in SAE's promotions for its college-level programs is Alba Colon, a female mechanical engineer who attended the University of Puerto Rico and became a program manager for GM Racing's Nascar Nextel Cup competition.

A longtime spokeswoman for Bayer's educational efforts is Mae Jemison, the first African-American astronaut in the United States.

Both organizations believe that their programs help fuel passion for science and engineering primarily through the efforts of the professionals who volunteer their time in the classrooms.

"Our programs are designed to get engineers on the floor with the kids to learn how to apply science," said Mr. Morris.

Officials from SAE and Bayer will receive the awards at a black-tie ceremony May 6 at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.