2017 Engineer-a-thon
2017 Activities
3D printing demonstration
See a 3-dimensional printer in action and samples of products from other types of 3d printers.
MSU MakerSpace
Properties of light
Students use polarized materials and other light filters to understand how the materials interact with infrared light.
International Society for Optics and Photonics
S’mores with computer code
Students use basic computer code commands to instruct others to make s'mores.
Association of Women in Computing
Making ice cream with liquid nitrogen
The cold temperature of liquid nitrogen is used to chill ice cream ingredients and make the tasty treat.
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Alaska oil pipeline
Students will create an oil (syrup) pipeline out of PVC pipe to transfer oil across the Alaskan terrain. Focuses on the environmental impact of engineering and how to make solutions efficient so that the environment isn’t negatively affected
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Fun with DNA and bacteria-enriched Juice
Students swish salt water in their mouths to extract some DNA that congeals with the aid of rubbing alcohol, then enjoy some bacteria-enriched juice.
Society of Biological Engineers
Concrete mixing
Students mix their own batch of coal fly-ash concrete and place it into a mold. This fast-setting concrete allow kids to create a finished product that they can take home.
American Society of Civil Engineers
Retaining wall demo
Students later sand with toilet paper to simulate how geotextiles add strength to earth-berm structures. Weights are placed on top to test the strength.
Association of General Contractors
Thermal properties
Students see how a thermal imaging camera works and then use thermal properties to crush an aluminum can.
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Electro-chemical fun
Students use lemons to generate enough electricity to power simple electronics, see a small hydrogen fuel-cell car in action, and feel how hydrophobic sand resists water.
Electro-Chemical Society
Filtering water
Students use a variety of household materials to filter water.
Engineers Without Borders