April 20, 2015

Engineering Discovery Days celebrates 100 years on UW campus, April 24-25

At the University of Washington’s first engineering open house, visitors marveled at early-1900s scientific advances: using electricity to cook and curl hair, sending wireless messages over a distance of five miles, experimenting with lightning.

Fast forward a century, and this week’s on-campus activities for the 100^th anniversary of Engineering Discovery Days include forming nanoparticles, extracting DNA from a strawberry, watching a human-powered submarine and building a prosthetic device.

The two-day event on April 24 and 25 — with nearly 100 interactive exhibits that demonstrate basic science concepts for children, expose prospective students to cutting-edge UW research and engage the public in engineering innovation — is expected to draw up to 10,000 visitors.

Friday’s events geared towards elementary and middle school students are at capacity. But visitors of all ages can attend on Saturday to see the hands-on exhibits, meet UW research teams and visit various engineering labs. Both days are free, but organizers ask that attendees register online to ensure there are enough supplies.

Students participate in the solar car derby at 2014 Engineering Discovery Days.UW

High school and community college students and their families on Saturday can attend presentations starting at 9 a.m. to learn about UW College of Engineering departments; admissions, scholarships and financial aid; women in science and engineering programs and UW housing and food options. Saturday’s exhibits will open at 10 a.m.

Many favorites, including 3-D printing demonstrations and racing a canoe made of lightweight concrete, will return. Visitors can help solve the fictitious murder of a famous synthetic biologist using DNA, explore learning-curve concepts in a human-sized maze, see fish robots swim, watch model houses sink as soil liquefies or turn electronic waste into jewelry.

The promenade along Rainier Vista and Drumheller Fountain will be filled with outdoor exhibits, and many engineering buildings will house indoor exhibits. The Engineering Library is hosting a special exhibit on local engineering milestones of the past 100 years: “A Century of Invention: Engineering in Washington State since 1915.”

Organizers recommend avoiding driving on campus during the event. Public transit, parking and directions are available online.

Photos from this year’s event will be posted on the Engineering Discovery Days Facebook page.