Engineering open house

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
02/21/07

University of Alaska Fairbanks engineering students and professors will celebrate the engineering profession with an open house in the Duckering Building from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 on the Fairbanks campus. The open house will include demonstrations of the latest engineering technology as well as free 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 operate a remote-controlled robot, pan for gold, float marbles, eat electric hot dogs and watch a simulated earthquake. 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 p.m. in Duckering 342 and the tour will follow.

The UAF steel bridge team will be present with the 2006 steel bridge and will also be available to discuss the 2007 regional steel bridge competition, which UAF will host in April. 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 arch is a decades-old campus tradition and is on display for public viewing in front of the Rasmuson Library.

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 engineering open house and parking is free.

CONTACT: Lisa Minnear at (907) 474-7390 or via e-mail at fnlcm1@uaf.edu.