Annual Open House Date Set: Feb. 23

U.Va. Engineering School Welcomes Technology Fans

February 8, 2002-- Artificial hearts. Robots. Race cars. Computers that help catch criminals.

These are just a few of the exciting research projects that families throughout Virginia can visit on Saturday, Feb. 23, during the annual open house sponsored by the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. The hands-on event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is free and open to the public.

The Engineering School’s open house offers an opportunity for technophiles to take a close look at the next generation of technology and talk informally with engineering school professors and students.

The programs are designed to appeal to students in middle school and high school who are interested in pursuing careers in science, engineering and technology. Programs include:

• Interactive exhibits, such as an artificial heart that operates with magnetic bearings, mobile robots programmed to play soccer, a Smart Travel Lab that tracks real-time traffic jams in Norfolk, a "Legends" racing car, wind tunnels used to design the next generation of aircraft, and a computer operated by eye movements.
• An audio-visual presentation by former NASA astronaut Kathy Thornton on the "Sights and Sounds of Space Flight," at 11 a.m.
• A virtual tour of the inside of a microchip.
• The judging of the annual Virginia high school wooden bridge-building contest.

Participants are asked to sign up at the registration table in the A-wing of Thornton Hall, near the front doors facing McCormick Road. Coffee and juice will be available in the morning. In the afternoon, tours of the school will be offered and include visits to nearby labs via shuttles.

Admissions officers and engineering student groups will give brief presentations and be on hand to answer questions.

Free parking is available in the lots behind the Engineering School during the day. Details and maps are available on the open house web site.

A brochure with detailed information and maps is attached.

Contact: Charlotte Crystal, (434) 924-6858

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact the Office of University Relations at (434) 924-7116. Television reporters should contact the TV News Office at (434) 924-7550.

SOURCE: U.Va. News Services

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Top News site edited by Dan Heuchert (dnh6n@virginia.edu); maintained by Karen Asher (kac@virginia.edu); releases posted by Sally Barbour (sab4w@virginia.edu).
Last Modified: Friday, 08-Feb-2002 11:06:19 EST
© 2002 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
Top News Information: (434) 924-7676.