2016 CSE at the Minnesota State Fair

Child at State Fair interacting with test tube from CSE

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/28/2016) – A variety of College of Science and Engineering exhibits will showcase the relevance of science, engineering, and mathematics to people’s everyday lives at the 2016 Minnesota State Fair. The University of Minnesota exhibit on Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street will feature students and faculty in a wide range of fields. College of Science and Engineering faculty and students will also be featured during STEM Day at the Fair in Carousel Park and in the Eco Experience Building.

Thursday, Aug. 25–Monday, Sept. 5

Center for Sustainable Polymers, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Eco Experience Building—Randall Avenue and Cosgrove Street
Learn about bioplastics at this interactive exhibit. Plastic products are a major part of everyday life but are plagued with problems including their petroleum-based origins and end-of-life pollution. The new exhibit at the Eco Experience building showcases the work of the Center for Sustainable Polymers by illustrating the differences between traditional plastics and bio-based plastics. The multi-faceted exhibit includes displays highlighting the latest research and hands-on activities for fair visitors.

Thursday, Aug. 25

STEM Day at the Fair, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Carousel Park—front of the Grandstand
Fair guests get an up-close look at intriguing, interactive adventures brought to the fair by 35 organizations in the Minnesota STEM Network, an initiative of SciMathMN. Several University of Minnesota science and engineering faculty, staff, and students are involved in STEM Day at the Fair. Design features for a State Fair building and a zoo exhibit, build a battery with coins, make a food web, step inside the ExploraDome to see the night sky, test principles of aerodynamics with paper airplanes and clay model cars, learn about the role of polymers in diapers and movies, experiment with water pressure, maneuver robots to tackle challenges, test your engineering abilities by building a bridge, learn about biosecurity, rocketry, aquatics robotics and computer coding, and more! Watch for shows by the U of M Physics Force.

Minnesota Geological Survey/Department of Earth Sciences, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
At this educational exhibit, you can learn how geology not only explains why Minnesota has so many lakes, but also controls our drinking water supply and shapes our landscape as a whole. University of Minnesota Professor and State Geologist Harvey Thorleifson will be on hand at selected times throughout the day to answer questions and help people understand the geology in their back yard, as well as statewide.

MnDRIVE–Robotics, Sensors, and Advanced Manufacturing, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Everybody loves robots! This interactive exhibit will include robotics demonstrations featuring a humanoid robot and an interactive motion sensing game. Meet with researchers and learn about the State of Minnesota's initiative in supporting advanced robotics, sensing, and advanced manufacturing as part of the MnDRIVE initiative.

Friday, Aug. 26

Women in Mathematics, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
This exhibit is focused on helping us appreciate math in our everyday lives. There are interactive activities, games, and tricks for fair-goers of all ages to learn about symmetry and patterns in mathematics. Use one of our spirographs to make fun drawings to take home!

University of Minnesota Energy Club, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
The primary goal of the UMN Energy Club is to prepare young people as leaders in energy and climate. Learn about energy efficiency by creating your own electricity from Energy Club's Power Bike, and see how many watts you can generate!

Saturday, Aug. 27

GOFIRST Robotics, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
GOFIRST Robotics, a STEM student group at the University of Minnesota, will have robots in all sizes and shapes at their booth, including several you can drive yourself! Visit GOFIRST's booth to see robots built by college students and to learn how you and your children can get involved with robotics in Minnesota.

Sunday, Aug. 28

Gopher Motorsports, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
In this exhibit, Gopher Motorsports presents the Go4-16, a high-performance vehicle for the weekend autocross racer, designed and built by students at the University of Minnesota. It is capable of nearly 2 G's and can go from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds. The Go4-16 took 18th place against 120 other international Formula SAE teams this year at the annual competition in Michigan. Visit with team members and learn about performance engineering at the University of Minnesota!

Observational Cosmology Lab, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Professor Shaul Hanany's Observational Cosmology Lab will showcase various technologies and techniques used by EBEX, a telescope which flew around Antarctica on a helium balloon to help us understand the beginning of the Universe. These technologies and techniques include the levitating properties of superconductors as well as the polarization properties of light.

Monday, Aug. 29

Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Discover the wonders of the Universe in this exhibit from the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics. This exhibit will demonstrate tools and techniques that astronomers use to probe the Universe. We will feature demonstrations with an infrared camera, spectral tubes, real meteorites, and more. along with information about our upcoming astronomy events. Have a burning question about space? Come ask a University of Minnesota astronomer!

Tesla Works, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Tesla Works brings together the most ambitious makers from the University of Minnesota and drives them to turn their wildest ideas into reality! We've created everything from rocket engines and hovercraft to singing heads, painting robots, and fire that dances to music. Visit our booth to see what projects we're creating now and join in the science!

Tuesday, Aug. 30

MAST Laboratory (Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering), 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
In this interactive exhibit, you will learn about the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering’s research related to water treatment, traffic , soil liquefaction, and earthquake effects on structures. Enjoy games and other activities. In addition, the Student Chapter associated with the American Society of Civil Engineers will have displays and posters describing student activities that include the Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe competitions.

Wednesday, Aug. 31

Biomedical Engineering Society, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Learn about hearts from the Biomedical Engineering Society, a student group focused on outreach and professional development in the engineering community. Check out our booth to learn about healthy hearts and their electrical properties, diseased hearts, and how engineers design cardiac devices for treatment!

Polar Geospatial Center, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Penguins, explorers, and polar ice. You'll find this and much more when visiting the Polar Geospatial Center (PGC) exhibit. Come marvel at maps, photos, and videos of our research in places like Antarctica, the coldest, highest, and driest place on Earth. Our work helps people understand the extreme geography and climate of the continent on the bottom of the globe. Learn how the North Pole is home to more than just Santa Claus and meet a dynamic region of glaciers, permafrost, and stunning landscapes!

Thursday, Sept. 1

Medical Devices Center, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
See the future of medical device research at the University of Minnesota. This display will include rapid prototyped parts and devices, a visible heart demonstration with a video showcasing the Atlas of Human Heart Anatomy, a laparoscopic trainer with various instruments, and demo and interaction with 3D visualization using 3D glasses. Talk with experts about the state-of-the-art research that includes designing, prototyping, and testing new medical devices. Experimental Surgical Services, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, The Visible Heart Lab, and the Medical Devices Center will be on-site throughout the day.

Medical Devices Center Innovation Fellows Team, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
U of M Stage—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Watch an interactive presentation on how medical devices help the human body. Audience members will have an opportunity to match specific medical devices with their proper location in the human body and suggest the proper function of that device using a life-sized "Operation" game replica.

Friday, Sept. 2

Society of Women Engineers, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Enjoy fun, hands-on activities to explore science and engineering with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), a student organization at the University of Minnesota. Create polymer putty or build a robot out of a toothbrush and motor!

Engineers Without Borders, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Learn how student engineers are implementing environmentally and economically sustainable projects in developing countries in this exhibit. Watch how a small-scale ram pump uses gravity and water pressure to move water above its expected potential energy.

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) - University of Minnesota Student Branch connects aspiring engineers with the professional aerospace community. View several of their student designed vehicles and try out a laptop flight simulator!

Physics Force, 10-10:45 a.m., 11-11:45 a.m.
U of M Stage—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
The Physics Force is a group of wild and crazy physicists who use highly visual and entertaining demonstrations to teach elements of physics. The Physics Force goes above and beyond (literally) to educate and entertain. Their blend of slapstick, prop comedy and science is fun and educational for audiences of all ages.

Saturday, Sept. 3

Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Get involved with a variety of circuitry activities with the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers such as making your own circuit with a Makey-Makey. Make sure to stop by our exhibit for cute buttons and an opportunity to take a picture of our mascot, Kiki the panda.

Department of Chemistry Outreach Program, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Learn about some fascinating chemical phenomena with the University of Minnesota Chemistry Outreach Program. You will get to try hands-on experiments that test the capabilities of superabsorbent materials and investigate the densities and electrical conductivities of different materials. Explore chemistry with us!

Physics Force, 10-10:45 a.m., 11-11:45 a.m.
U of M Stage—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
The Physics Force is a group of wild and crazy physicists who use highly visual and entertaining demonstrations to teach elements of physics. The Physics Force goes above and beyond (literally) to educate and entertain. Their blend of slapstick, prop comedy and science is fun and educational for audiences of all ages.

Sunday, Sept. 4

Solar Vehicle Project, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
A car that can travel on power from the sun may sound like science fiction, but it is a reality at the University of Minnesota. See the inner workings of a solar car built by University undergraduate students that competed in the World Solar Challenge through the Australian Outback.

Monday, Sept. 5

Solar Vehicle Project, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
A car that can travel on power from the sun may sound like science fiction, but it is a reality at the University of Minnesota. See the inner workings of a solar car built by University undergraduate students that competed in the World Solar Challenge through the Australian Outback.