A variety of alternative energy systems and devices will be among the engineering student projects showcased at the University of Colorado at Boulder's ITL Spring Design Expo on Saturday, April 28.
The event, which is free and open to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., will include 75 projects, ranging from a "hybrid" speedboat that could operate on a hydrogen fuel cell to an educational playground exhibit about the generation of wind energy developed for a local elementary school.
Lockheed Martin is sponsoring the expo, which will be held at the Integrated Teaching and Learning (ITL) Laboratory, located on Regent Drive south of Colorado Avenue in Boulder.
The expo is a popular educational event for families and will showcase the work of about 400 engineering students, including first-year and senior design projects. First-year projects include Rube Goldberg contraptions, which perform simple tasks in complex ways; interactive educational exhibits that demonstrate engineering principles; and alternative energy generation systems and devices, among others. Seniors will demonstrate aerospace, chemical engineering and computer science design projects.
Students from the Centaurus High School Pre-Engineering Academy also will show projects they built.
Many people from industry, government and the community volunteer their time to serve as judges for the annual event, rating each project on its originality, craftsmanship, grasp of engineering principles, effectiveness and presentation.
Organizers will host an awards ceremony at the close of the event, and hand out prizes to the best design project in each category. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite project to win the "People's Choice" award.
Free parking will be available across the street in lot 436. For more information, call (303) 492-7222 or go to itll.colorado.edu.