Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently hosted the 47th annual Engineering, Mathematics, and Science Expo. The expo brought students, teachers, alumni and friends of UWP together to experience events and displays from EMS students.

The EMS Expo has two purposes: to inform attendees 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. Those who attended received the opportunity to observe UWP students and faculty in action - displaying the benefits that an engineering, mathematics and science education can provide.

EMS Expo events were designed for students in preschool through grade 12. Events included Robots at Work, Balsa Wood Bridge Contest, Jenga Construction, Spaghetti Bridge Class Project and the Slime Pit. John Deere equipment and engineers brought an axel testing device for attendees to experience as well.

Vinny Oliveri and Allison Tobison are two UWP chemistry students who gave presentations in the Slime Pit, teaching students how to make slime and help them learn the principles of hydrogen bonding and chemical reactions. "It was very rewarding working with students and seeing their excitement and interest in science and explosions," commented Tobison.

"There was an excellent turnout this year. We hosted the greatest number of attendees and had over 60 exhibits," Tammy Salmon-Stephens, co-chair of the expo, said.

A scavenger hunt containing a series of science-related questions was set up to encourage students to spend time looking at displays, competitions and exhibitions throughout the expo, in order to answer the questions.

A new aspect of the expo this year was the networking room, designed for UWP students and industry companies. Among the companies in attendance were KL Engineering, Coating Place, Town and County Engineering, GE Healthcare, Wolf/Subzero, Alliant Energy, Hormel Foods, EPIC, Integrys, PPD and 3M.

Chris Smith and Dan Marquardt, UWP students, gave presentations in the chemistry demo room. "It's great getting kids involved and watching their expressions as they see demos - I enjoy getting them more interested in science," Smith said. "The EMS Expo is important because it gets kids excited about science and shows them how much fun it can be," Marquardt added.

For more information on the EMS Expo, contact Phil Sealy, co-chair, EMS Expo, at (608) 342-1455 or sealy@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Phil Sealy, co-chair EMS expo, (608) 342-1455, sealy@uwplatt.edu