To have some smart fun and learn about what the College of Engineering is up to these days, pay a visit to its 30th annual Engineering EXPO, taking place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 21 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 22.The showcase offers firsthand introductions to various concepts, practices and career tracks through a number of accessible exhibits.
Chemical Magic Show presents some of the widely used principles of chemistry, demonstrating different types of chemical reactions and changes of state (gas, liquid and solid).
Flights of Fancy, put on by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, explains Newton's three laws of motion with the help of a wind tunnel — used to show airflow over a wing, how a Frisbee flies and the gauges of a model rocket engine at work.
Laser Light Show highlights some psychedelic eye candy created by electrical and computer engineering majors.
Journey to Understanding displays devices designed by engineers to accomplish specific tasks despite the constraints of limited resources.
Fun with Physics is an adventure through various fields of physics ranging from Newtonian Mechanics to Electricity and Magnetism. You'll see something called a Tesla coil, witness a frying pan defy gravity and some other things you might not immediately understand, but each demonstration includes an explanation of what's going on.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days, food vendors are in the courtyard of the engineering complex.
Also both days, several silly competitions test scientific knowledge and problem solving skills: the McGyver Challenge (hourly), the Spaghetti Tower Contest (continuously) and a Paper Plane Contest (continuously).
From 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 22, there's a Balsa Wood Bridge Building Contest presented by the American Society of Civil Engineers. And from noon to 1 p.m. there's an Electrathon Car Race in Parking Lot 24A, presented by the Society of Automotive Engineers.
For more info on EXPO, such as a complete schedule of events, visit www.org.eng.usf.edu/expo. EXPO takes place at USF's engineering complex, located at 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-974-2323.
This article appears in Feb 19-25, 2003.