Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosted the 48th annual Engineering, Mathematics and Science Expo on April 2. The expo brought approximately 900 students, teachers, alumni and friends of UWP together to experience events and displays from EMS students.

The EMS Expo has two main 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. Attendees received the opportunity to observe UWP students and faculty in action - displaying the benefits that an engineering, mathematics and science education can provide.

Expo events were designed for students in preschool through grade 12 and included: Robots at Work, Lego My House, Assemble a Sundae, Messy Card Mayhem, Spaghetti Bridge Project, Cold as Ice, the Big Bang, Slime Pit and Concrete Mixer. Participants could even explore the Nano World, using UWP's scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope.

David Kraemer, co-chair of the EMS expo, was pleased with the turnout of the event, "There was incredible participation from middle school and high school students. We had visitors from Illinois, Iowa and the Milwaukee area, which was great to see."

An example of this participation was Jay Koebert, a physics teacher at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. For the past 12 years, Koebert has been bringing his high school students to UWP as an extra credit option for class. Two of his students spent a couple weeks designing electric cars to race during the expo.

Christina Curras, the other co-chair for the expo, was impressed with the level of participation from UW-Platteville's EMS students. "There were students from a variety of EMS majors who created displays this year and many new projects for visitors to experience."

UWP junior Leah Sherfinski is a UWP biology major and participated in the EMS expo for the first time as part of her organic chemistry class. She was in charge of the slime pit, where visitors could learn about the chemical combinations that result in slime, and make their own in various colors.

"The expo is a great chance for students and other visitors to see that math, science and engineering can actually be fun and a learning opportunity at the same time," Sherfinski said.

For more information on the EMS Expo, contact Curras at (608) 342-1541 or currasc@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Christina Curras, co-chair of EMS expo, (608) 342-1541, currasc@uwplatt.edu Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu