UAF to host engineering open house

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: (907) 474-7902
02/17/06

University of Alaska Fairbanks engineering students and professors will celebrate the engineering profession with an open house in the Duckering Building from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 on the Fairbanks campus. The open house will include demonstrations of the latest engineering technology as well as interactive activities for people of all ages.

Engineering students and faculty and local engineers will host a variety of displays, demonstrations and presentations.

Participants will have a chance to witness a robotic vehicle in action, try to float marbles, pan for gold, eat electric hot dogs, watch a simulated earthquake and tour the petroleum labs. A highlight of the event will be a tour of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permafrost Tunnel, located eight miles north of Fairbanks off the Steese Highway. A presentation will begin at 2:30 p.m. in Duckering 342 and the tour will follow.

The UAF steel bridge team will be present with the 2005 steel bridge. Visitors will have the opportunity to ask the team questions about the design of the bridge and tour the machine shop where the bridge was built.

In addition, engineering students have designed this year’s ice arch for the public to enjoy. The 15-foot-tall and 30-foot-wide ice arch continues a 50-year-old campus tradition.

The open house takes place in conjunction with National Engineers Week, an annual event to increase public awareness and appreciation of engineers and their work, and is sponsored locally by the Fairbanks chapter of the Alaska Society of Professional Engineers. All ages are welcome to the E-Week Open House and parking is free.

CONTACT: Lisa Minnear at (907) 474-7390 or via e-mail at fnlcm1@uaf.edu . UAF Public Information Officer Marmian Grimes at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu .