Come see the College of Science and Engineering at the 2011 State Fair
Contact:
Rhonda Zurn, College of Science and Engineering, (612) 626-7959, rzurn@umn.edu
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (08/19/2011)—A variety of College of Science and Engineering exhibits will showcase the relevance of science, engineering, and mathematics to people's everyday lives at this year's 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
We see the ads for compostable chip bags or plastics made from plants, but did you know that the University of Minnesota is leading the way in sustainable plastic research? These plastics are part of a transition our society is experiencing as we move from petroleum-based plastics toward more sustainable plastics. In this exhibit running throughout the State Fair, professors, students, and staff affiliated with the University's Center for Sustainable Polymers will discuss how plants are an important new resource for plastics, packaging, and products we use every day.
Thursday, Aug. 25
GO FIRST Robotics Team, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Have you ever seen a flying robot? The University of Minnesota student group, GO FIRST, provides students with the opportunity to design and build robots for a collegiate robotics competition. They also volunteer in the community by mentoring high school robotics teams. Come see the flying robot that was built to compete in the national competition and talk to students who built the robot.
STEM Day at the Fair, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Carousel Park—front of the Grandstand
Experience science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in a fun and interactive environment at the second annual STEM Day at the State Fair. Visitors will be able to engage in hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations from a diverse array of exhibitors and organizations including the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium led by University of Minnesota and many others. The University of Minnesota main stage events occur on the hour starting at 10 a.m. with the last show starting at 2 p.m.
U of M Physics Force shows-10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m.
U of M Chemistry Department shows-11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Center for Transportation Studies and Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
This Center for Transportation Studies and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute exhibit will engage people with a traffic control game called Gridlock Buster, which incorporates tools and ideas that traffic control engineers use in their everyday work. The exhibit will also feature SafeRoadMaps.org, a powerful and visually innovative crash-mapping tool that maps out every roadway fatality in the nation to the local level, and Distraction Dodger (a newly developed driver distraction game aimed at teenagers.)
Center for Transportation Studies and Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, 1–2 p.m., 3–4 p.m.
U of M Stage Show—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Stop by the main University stage and play "Transportation Jeopardy" to win cool prizes.
Friday, Aug. 26
Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE)—Professional Chemistry Fraternity, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Chemistry is all around us. Come join the University of Minnesota student chapter of the professional chemistry fraternity Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE) as they explore the everyday chemistry of your home. This exhibit features hands-on experiments to see how chemists have helped shape our lives. In this exhibit, you can explore basic polymers, acids/bases, and the chemistry behind some of the foods we eat.
Center for Transportation Studies and Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
This Center for Transportation Studies and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute exhibit will engage people with a traffic control game called Gridlock Buster, which incorporates tools and ideas that traffic control engineers use in their everyday work. The exhibit will also feature SafeRoadMaps.org, a powerful and visually innovative crash-mapping tool that maps out every roadway fatality in the nation to the local level, and Distraction Dodger (a newly developed driver distraction game aimed at teenagers.)
Center for Transportation Studies and Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, 2–3 p.m., 4–5 p.m.
U of M Stage Show—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Stop by the main University stage and play "Transportation Jeopardy" to win cool prizes.
Saturday, Aug. 27
Formula car team student group, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
In this exhibit you will see a high-performance race vehicle capable of nearly 2 Gs designed and built by undergraduates at the University of Minnesota. Come see the latest vehicle designed for a competition in Michigan against 120 other Formula SAE teams. Visit with team members and learn more about becoming a part of performance engineering on the Formula SAE team at the University!
Sunday, Aug. 28
Innovative Engineers, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Come and see how Innovative Engineers is extending the reach of renewable energy to the developing world. The exhibit includes an interactive display which invites visitors to spin a 1kW wind turbine and generate electricity. The exhibit also includes informational displays and handouts of the work that Innovative Engineers is currently doing around the world.
Monday, Aug. 29
Center for Distributed Robotics, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
This entertaining and interactive exhibit features a variety of robots developed in the University of Minnesota's Center for Distributed Robotics, including a robot that is currently being used by law enforcement and the military in search and rescue missions and reconnaissance deployments. The robot, called the Scout, is only about the size of a soda can, but is durable enough to break through a glass window and land safely and ready to begin its mission. Also see new robots that can climb stairs, work in water, and fly!
Center for Distributed Robotics, 1–2 p.m.
U of M Stage Show–Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
This entertaining and interactive demonstration features a variety of robots developed in the University of Minnesota's Center for Distributed Robotics, including a robot that is currently being used by law enforcement and the military in search and rescue missions and reconnaissance deployments. The robot, called the Scout, is only about the size of a soda can, but is durable enough to break through a glass window and land safely and ready to begin its mission. Also see new robots that can climb stairs, work in water, and fly!
Tuesday, Aug. 30
Department of Civil Engineering: Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) MAST Laboratory, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building–Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
You heard about the major earthquakes this year in Japan and New Zealand, now you can make your own earthquake at the Minnesota State Fair! Come and get a printout of the ground motion that you can generate at this interactive booth and learn about how the vibrations that you generate compare to a real earthquake. Find out what the University of Minnesota is doing to better design structures to withstand the devastating effects of earthquakes through research at the College of Science and Engineering's Department of Civil Engineering National Science Foundation NEES Multi-axial Subassemblage Testing Laboratory on campus.
Wednesday, Aug. 31
Solar Vehicle Team, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
A car that travels on power from the sun may sound like science fiction, but it is a reality at the University of Minnesota. Come see the latest solar car built by University students, which just recently won the 2011 Formula Sun Grand Prix, a closed-track race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. See the inner workings of the car and talk to members that designed and built the car and get a sneak peak of what's to come for next year's car!
Thursday, Sept. 1
Medical Devices Center, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Come see the future of medical device research at the U of M. Researchers from Experimental Surgical Services, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, The Visible Heart Lab and the Medical Devices Center will be on-site throughout the day. This display will include body part models, rapid prototyped parts and devices, a visible heart demonstration, a demo using a WiiMote allowing the user to move a computer model with hand movement, and many surgical devices. Talk with experts and find out more about the state-of-the-art research that includes designing, prototyping, and testing new medical devices.
Friday, Sept. 2
Engineers Without Borders, U of M student group, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
No water, no toilets, no waste removal, no electricity! EWB-UMN provides unique opportunities to interdisciplinary teams of students to address these issues in developing countries around the world. Learn how EWB has successfully implemented environmentally and economically sustainable projects. The students have partnered with disadvantaged communities to improve sanitation and recycling in Haiti, fix water distribution pipelines in Honduras, and provide a clean water supply in Guatemala and Uganda.
Saturday, Sept. 3
Solar Vehicle Team, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
A car that travels on power from the sun may sound like science fiction, but it is a reality at the University of Minnesota. Come see the latest solar car built by University students, which just recently won the 2011 Formula Sun Grand Prix, a closed-track race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. See the inner workings of the car and talk to members that designed and built the car and get a sneak peak of what's to come for next year's car!
Physics Force, 10 and 11 a.m. shows
U of M Stage Show—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
This group of wild and crazy physicists 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
Punk Physics, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Do you want to amaze your friends with your command of science? Lift a car with your hands? Wield awesome power with just a banana? Punk Physics is here to help you perform incredible feats using simple physics.
Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE)–Professional Chemistry Fraternity, 12:30, 1:45, and 3 p.m. shows
U of M Stage Show—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Chemistry is an experimental science. Come join the University of Minnesota student chapter of the professional chemistry fraternity Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE) for a series of live demonstrations that illustrate just how exciting chemistry and science can be. During the show they will also explain the"magic" behind these visually stunning feats by connecting what you see with basic principles of chemistry in an easy-to-understand way.
Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Math is the answer to understanding our world, making new discoveries, and addressing the challenges facing our society, our industries, and our planet. In this Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) exhibit you will learn how to decipher secret codes in an interactive cryptography activity. Also learn how the IMA is among the world's most influential math institutes and meet a few of the visiting mathematicians.
Monday, Sept. 5
Punk Physics, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
U of M Exhibit Building—Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
Do you want to amaze your friends with your command of science? Lift a car with your hands? Wield awesome power with just a banana? Punk Physics is here to help you perform incredible feats using simple physics.
For more information about University of Minnesota exhibits at the State Fair, visit www.statefair.umn.edu. For general information about the Minnesota State Fair, visit www.mnstatefair.org.