2022 CSE at the Minnesota State Fair

Student exhibitor interacting with students — CSE's exhibits at the Minnesota State Fair will feature a variety of fun and interactive activities that showcase the relevance of science, engineering, and mathematics to people’s everyday lives.

16 CSE exhibitors will be featured throughout the fair

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/25/2022) — 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 2022 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 Dan Patch Park and the U of M's Driven to Discover research building.

Thursday, Aug. 25

STEM Day at the Fair
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dan Patch Park—next to the Grandstand

Fair guests get an up-close look at intriguing, interactive adventures through more than science, technology, engineering, and math education providers and business supporters brought to the Fair by SciMathMN, Minnesota’s STEM education advocacy organization. Several University of Minnesota science and engineering faculty, staff, and students are involved in STEM Day at the Fair. Visit Dan Patch Park for a celebration of STEM that attracts fairgoers to the exhibit area and the adjoining stage performances.
Minnesota Geological Survey/Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
9 a.m-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads 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.
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

In this interactive exhibit, you will learn how civil, environmental, and geo- engineers "engineer for society." Create your own coaster, win an eco-tote bag at the quiz wheel, and grab yourself a CEGE hand-fan! The American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter will have displays describing student activities including the Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe competitions.
"Shuttle Ahead! Follow or Pass?"
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Driven to Discover Building—Cooper and Cosgrove Streets

This research study will assess drivers' decision making on whether they will wait after or pass by a shuttle bus with advanced features.
Physics Force Stage Show
10:15 a.m.
Dan Patch Park—next to the Grandstand

Join the Physics Force, a group of wild and crazy physics teachers, who use highly visual and entertaining demonstrations to educate and entertain. Their blend of slapstick comedy and science is fun and educational for audiences of all ages. Learn a thing or two while you laugh!

Physics Force Stage Show
1:15 p.m.
Dan Patch Park—next to the Grandstand

Join the Physics Force, a group of wild and crazy physics teachers, who use highly visual and entertaining demonstrations to educate and entertain. Their blend of slapstick comedy and science is fun and educational for audiences of all ages. Learn a thing or two while you laugh!
"Let's Check Your Balance!"
2:30-9 p.m.
Driven to Discover Building—Cooper and Cosgrove Streets

Balance is an important aspect of everyday life. We need it for standing up from a chair just as much as we need it for walking on a tight rope. This study will use wearable sensors to assess how well you can balance during a variety of tasks. We encourage everyone over 18 to participate, and we specifically are looking for people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's to participate in the study.

Friday, Aug. 26

University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project Team
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads 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's a reality at the University of Minnesota. Explore the inner workings of how a solar car is built and raced by University undergraduate students.

Saturday, Aug. 27

University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project Team
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads 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's a reality at the University of Minnesota. Explore the inner workings of how a solar car is built and raced by University undergraduate students.

Sunday, Aug. 28

Gopher Motorsports: University of Minnesota Formula SAE Team
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Visit the Gopher Motorsports booth to see both of the student-designed and built race cars and parts. Ask the team about the simulation, testing, and design process and learn more about how STEM education can be applied to your passions.

Monday, Aug. 29

Gopher Motorsports: University of Minnesota Formula SAE Team
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Visit the Gopher Motorsports booth to see both of the student-designed and built race cars and parts. Ask the team about the simulation, testing, and design process and learn more about how STEM education can be applied to your passions.

Tuesday, Aug. 30

Code the Gap Student Group
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Code the Gap is a University of Minnesota student group that works to promote diversify in STEM fields by teaching Python programming language to K-12 students and encouraging the participation of historically underrepresented groups in STEM. Currently, Code the Gap has more than 15 volunteer instructors to teach the students skills in computer science and create opportunities for them to engage with STEM.

Wednesday, Aug. 31

Institute for Engineering in Medicine—Where Medicine and Technology Meet
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

See where medicine and technology meet! This interactive display will include wonders of the human heart, 3D-printed parts and devices, kid- friendly tossing games and 3D visualization using 3D glasses. The Institute for Engineering in Medicine, ATP-BioSM, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, the Visible Heart® Laboratories, and the Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center will be on site throughout the day.

Thursday, Sept. 1

Department of Chemistry/MnDRIVE Pierre Research Group
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Phosphate, the nutrient of life! Explore how we use phosphate to improve our lives, the impact this practice has on the environment, and how researchers at the forefront of phosphate capture chemistry are responding. Use interactive games to investigate the phosphate cycle and the balance that ensures the health of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Researchers will demonstrate chemistry experiments to show how phosphate is tested for and removed from water bodies to manage algal blooms and food security for the next generation.

Friday, Sept. 2

IEEE Women in Electrical Engineering, University of Minnesota Student Chapter
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Spin the UMN wheel, built and programmed by electrical and computer engineering students from the University of Minnesota, for an opportunity to win fun prizes!
University of Minnesota Robotics Student Group
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

This exhibit features a variety of robots built by college students who are a part of the University of Minnesota Robotics group, including Bot Shot, a basketball-shooting robot featured during the Final Four college basketball championship weekend. Additionally, learn about STEM opportunities for students of all ages.

Saturday, Sept. 3

Department of Chemistry Outreach Program: Chemists in the Classroom
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Chemistry is all around us! Join the University of Minnesota Chemistry Outreach Program and explore chemistry in your everyday life. You'll participate in some hands-on experiments while understanding how chemists shape the world.
Society of Women Engineers, University of Minnesota Student Chapter
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads 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. Experiment with snap circuits and more!

Sunday, Sept. 4

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Make paper airplanes and check out a variety of student-designed vehicles with students from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) - University of Minnesota Student Branch. Talk with students and learn more about aerospace engineering!
Engineers Without Borders, University of Minnesota Chapter
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Learn how student engineers are implementing environmentally and socially sustainable local and international projects. This group will highlight partnerships with communities in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Malawi. In these communities, students work to improve local infrastructure from water distribution, accessible gardens, and sanitation projects.

Monday, Sept. 5

Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, University of Minnesota Student Chapter
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Learn about science and technology in our world in a fun and exciting way! This exhibit features a variety of engaging and educational scientific activities for curious visitors of all ages, including physics demonstrations and circuitry related activities. We also have a unique photo booth featuring our club mascot!
Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics
9 a.m.-9 p.m.
U of M Crossroads Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street

Discover the wonders of the Universe! At this exhibit, astronomers from the University of Minnesota will demonstrate the tools and techniques that we use in our work. Highlights include real meteorites, demonstrations with an infrared camera, spectral tubes, a visual demonstration of how galaxies warp space itself, and more!
"Handheld Drawing Robots"
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Driven to Discover Building—Cooper and Cosgrove Streets

This study will help researchers learn how humans might collaborate with handheld surgical robots in the future. Participants will team up with a futuristic robot-on-a-stick to draw a line inside a tunnel thinner than a pencil lead without making any mistakes. This one-of-a-kind, fun experience is open to everyone. Fill a short survey at the end to help us improve our robot.