Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Goopy creations, electronic wizardry, booming explosions and floating concrete are only a few things that visiting high school students experienced at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's annual EXPO. Held on Thursday, March 31, EXPO was an entire day devoted to exploration in engineering, mathematics and science related fields.

"EXPO 2005 has two purposes; to inform students of what engineering, mathematics and science are all about, and to provide incentive for the challenge awaiting those who choose a career in one of these fields," said Richard Shultz, dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science (EMS).

Each year departments and organizations throughout the College of EMS participate in demonstrations and displays to promote their area of expertise. This year's participants included chemistry, computer science, engineering physics, and civil, environmental, electrical, general, industrial, mechanical and software engineering.

Not only did participants visit the slime pit, exhibition rooms, demonstrations, laboratory tours and competitions, they were involved in them too. Visitors learned how robots are programmed to do work, how refrigerators work and how the UWP "M" is kept looking its best.

Since 1978, visitors have been participating in the Pioneer 600, building mini battery powered cars and racing them on a 600 cm track. The annual Model Bridge Contest allowed students to build a bridge of Balsa wood and test the weight bearing load capacity. With students from the American Society of Civil Engineers, attendees watched as a team of builders put together a bridge they designed and fabricated based on a set of design specs. After assembly, the bridge was tested with a load of over 2,500 pounds. Working with members of the Society of Women Engineers, students enjoyed a round of mini golf by choosing items from the "junkyard" and designing and building their own mini golf course.

Added Shultz, "Everything you experience will hopefully be helpful in giving you an insight into what engineering, mathematics and science are, the role of engineers and sciences in today's society and the many challenges they face in the future."

For more information about EXPO, contact co-chair Phil Sealy or the dean's office of the College of EMS at (608) 342-1455 and (608) 342-1561 respectively. Discover more on the EXPO website at www.uwplatt.edu/expo.

Contact: Phil Sealy, Co-Chair EXPO Day, (608) 342-1455,sealy@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: Rachael Lehr, Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,lehrr@uwplatt.edu