NEWS INDEX Archives 2004 February

Engineering Open House highlights ingenuity

James E. Kloeppel, Physical Sciences Editor
217-244-1073; kloeppel@uiuc.edu

2/9/04

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Wild and wacky Rube Goldberg machines, robots fighting for possession of wooden blocks, and more than 120 fun-filled exhibits are among the attractions awaiting visitors to the 84th annual Engineering Open House at the University of Illinois.

The event, organized by students in the Engineering Council at Illinois, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 12 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 13. The Illinois Engineering Open House is one of the largest technological showcases of its kind in the nation, attracting more than 10,000 visitors each year. This year’s theme – Engineering Ingenuity – emphasizes the creative process behind engineering.

Visitor guides containing a campus map and descriptions of the activities and exhibits will be available at the EOH headquarters booth in the Kenney Gymnasium Annex, 1402 W. Springfield Ave., Urbana. All events are free and open to the public.

“Engineering Open House is a great opportunity for students of all ages to learn more about how math, science and engineering affect their lives,” said Jenny Chen, an Illinois computer science student and this year’s open house director. “During the two-day event, our engineering students will showcase their talent through fascinating projects, design competitions and demonstrations.”

A major highlight will be the 17th annual W.J. “Jerry” Sanders Creative Design Competition. This college design contest is sponsored by Advanced Micro Devices and is named for the company’s founder, an Illinois alumnus. In this year’s competition, student-built, remote-controlled vehicles will fight for possession of puzzle-like wooden blocks and arrange them to make a square. Approximately 24 teams will compete in the contest, which will be held both days in the Kenney Gymnasium Annex.

In the high school design competition, students will again pay homage to Goldberg, a satirical cartoonist best known for his designs of ridiculously complicated gadgets that performed the simplest tasks in whimsical, roundabout ways. This year’s task is to build a machine that can select, mark and cast an election ballot – all in the weirdest way possible.

Each machine must use at least 20 steps to accomplish the task. Approximately 25 teams from Central and Southern Illinois will compete in the contest, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 12 in the Illini Union, 1401 W. Green St., Urbana.

Younger visitors, too, will have an opportunity to test their creativity as they learn about science and engineering. On March 12, students in seventh and eighth grades will design and build bridges out of spaghetti in the Kenney Gymnasium Annex. A special on-site design challenge will be open to visitors March 13, also in the gymnasium annex.

Spread throughout the engineering campus, more than 120 exhibits – featuring student research and projects sponsored by engineering societies – will reflect the theme of Engineering Open House. Prepared primarily by undergraduates, the exhibits will demonstrate both new concepts and the underlying engineering principles.

For example, the Physics Society will conduct experiments with liquid nitrogen, demonstrate an electromagnetic linear accelerator, and operate a pipe organ powered by fire in the Loomis Lab, 1110 W. Green St., Urbana. Also in Loomis Lab, the Illini Space Development Society will discuss current Mars exploration, miniature rocket engines and the new race for space.

The Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society will explore the use of artificial blood, demonstrate new methods of controlled-release drug delivery, and present the latest developments in tissue engineering, gene therapy and cloning in the Everitt Lab, 1406 W. Green St., Urbana.

At the Roger Adams Lab, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers will describe why people fall in love with chocolate, explain the chemistry of soaps and detergents, demonstrate various forensic science analysis techniques, and present the principles behind coal gasification.

The Association for Computing Machinery will demonstrate an extremely fast but realistic three-dimensional computer graphics system, an interactive virtual pet and a variety of computer games and simulations in the Digital Computer Lab, 1304 W. Springfield Ave., Urbana.

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will display student-built aircraft and a human-powered hydrofoil in the Talbot Lab, 104 S. Wright St., Urbana.

At the Hydrosystems Lab, 301 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, the International Water Resources Association will demonstrate how some animals use fluid mechanics for locomotion, explain how gravity and density interact to create tornadoes, and show how engineers use bubble screens to protect shorelines and harbors from pounding waves.

As in years past, food and entertainment – featuring local talent – will be located in “Area 51” at the south end of the Engineering Quad. Student-led tours, highlighting some of the most exciting exhibits and lasting approximately 30 minutes, also will leave from Area 51.