Engineering challenges carnival
Virtual Engineers Week Carnival Activities
February 20-27
All event times are EST
All events are FREE and no registration is required
To view video recordings of the events that have already taken place, click below.
Choose Your Own Adventure: An Interactive Scratch Programming Demo!
ORGANIZATION: Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
DATE: SAT. FEBRUARY 20
TIME: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Come learn how to code using Scratch and engage with Case Western Reserve students. This demo will include the following:
TARGET AUDIENCE: 3rd – 8th grade
RELEVANT LINKS:
Powerful Engineers with WISER
ORGANIZATION: W.I.S.E.R. (WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ROUNDTABLE)
DATE: SAT. FEBRUARY 20
TIME: 12:30 - 1:15 p.m.
Learn about how engineers are always improving and expanding uses for reusable energy with a game and experiment with how hydropower works with an activity. We will also have Questions and Answers with WISER members!
TARGET AUDIENCE: All ages
RELEVANT LINKS:
case.edu/centerforwomen/about/student-groups/wiser
Turning Natural Resources into the Products we use Every Day
FACULTY LAB: PROF. DAN LACKS, Chair, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
DATE: MON. FEBRUARY 22
TIME: 1:00 - 1:30 p.m.
We will show how engineers take things found in nature, such as seeds from plants, and use these to create products we use every day, such as soap and automobile fuel.
TARGET AUDIENCE: All ages
RELEVANT LINKS:
engineering.case.edu/gelfand-global
Environmental Engineering Experiments
FACULTY: PROF. JUDY ZHANG, Civil Engineering Department
DATE: TUE. FEBRUARY 23
TIME: 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
In this short demonstration, several experiments commonly seen in water quality monitoring and water treatment will be demonstrated and explained, including titration, coagulation, biodegradation (OECD 301b method), and adsorption/ advanced oxidation.
TARGET AUDIENCE: 9th – 12th grade
RELEVANT LINKS:
engineering.case.edu/profiles/hjz13
How Mixing 2 Solids Can Make a Liquid: An Exploration of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES)
FACULTY LAB: Prof. BURCU GURKAN, Energy Lab, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department
DATE: TUE. FEBRUARY 23
TIME: 1:00 - 1:45 p.m.
Take a virtual tour of the lab. We will demonstrate the synthesis of a Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES). The DES we will synthesize is called Reline, and is a mixture of choline chloride and urea. These are both compounds that are commonly found in biological systems, and are readily available. During the synthesis, we will discuss phases of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) and how intermolecular interactions can affect a substance’s phase.
TARGET AUDIENCE: 6th – 12th grade
RELEVANT LINKS:
• www.energylab-cwru.com/about (lab website)
•engineering.case.edu/research/centers/breakthrough-electrolytes-for-energy-storage
(video on deep eutectic solvents)
Smart Civil Engineering Materials and Healthy Built Environment
FACULTY LAB: Prof. BILL YU, Civil Engineering Department
DATE: TUE. FEBRUARY 23
TIME: 2:15 - 3:00 p.m.
Come hear Prof. Yu talk about the future of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the emerging smart infrastructure technologies and built environment as part of his research. Also hear female students talk about their experience as graduate students, their research and career aspirations with an opportunity to ask them questions!
TARGET AUDIENCE: All ages
RELEVANT LINKS:
Sears think[box] Project Showcase
ORGANIZATION: THINK[BOX]
DATE: WED. FEBRUARY 24
TIME: 11:00 - 11:45 A.M.
Our student technicians will present some of the projects that have been built using the resources available at Sears think[box]. Projects will range from the Connected Desk Lamp and Autonomous Robot to the Wooden Cutting Board and CNC Maze.
TARGET AUDIENCE: All ages
RELEVANT LINKS:
Real Researchers Talk Hypothetical Robots
FACULTY: Prof. Kati Daltorio, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biologically-Inspired Robotics Lab
DATE: WED. FEBRUARY 24
TIME: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Engage with researchers at the Case Western Biologically-Inspired Robotics Lab. What is your favorite idea for a robot? Students can pitch their own ideas and engineers discuss the biggest challenges. What is really possible and what is fun science fiction? We will discuss fictional robots (e.g. Iron Man, Star Wars droids, Rosie) and intelligent robots available now (self-driving cars, Roomba, or artificial intelligence in smart speakers). Students can ask questions like: What does it take to become a robot engineer?
TARGET AUDIENCE: 2nd – 12th grade
RELEVANT LINKS:
cnn.com/2020/09/26/world/tiny-insect-inspired-robots-scn/index
Discover Your Engineering Match: A “Buzzfeed” Style Quiz that Will Match You with a SWE Mentor!
ORGANIZATION: Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
DATE: WED. FEBRUARY 24
TIME: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
This webinar will answer the following questions for students interested in engineering!
• What is engineering? What types of engineering are there?
• What is Society of Women Engineers (SWE) all about?
• Is there anything I wish I had known about being an engineering student before heading into college? (A poll from CWRU SWE members)
• What field of engineering aligns with my interests?
• What is mentorship?
**This webinar will include taking a short quiz to see what field of engineering aligns with your values/interests.
Building with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
ORGANIZATION: SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers)
DATE: THUR. FEBRUARY 25
TIME: 11:00 - 11:45 a.m.
Come meet SHPE members and explore concepts of civil/ mechanical/ architectural engineering by building a bridge with simple household supplies. Do the activity at home with the SHPE members: 12 pencils (or popsicle sticks or skewers) and approx. 30 rubber bands, or loom/small bands.
TARGET AUDIENCE: 6th – 8th grade
RELEVANT LINKS:
• shpe.org (SHPE website)
• instagram.com/cwrushpe
(SHPE CWRU instagram)
"Life as an Engineering Student" Panel
ORGANIZATION: CASE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING (CSE) PEER ADVISORS
DATE: THUR. FEBRUARY 25
TIME: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Moderated panel of 3-4 engineering students answering the broad topic of “What Makes a Successful Engineering Student?” Through a discussion and open Q&A from the audience, we will be sharing our experiences as engineering students and tips on what middle and high schoolers can do now to set themselves up for success in engineering.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Middle and high school students
Robo-rally: Let's plow!
FACULTY: Prof. ROGER QUINN, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biologically-Inspired Robotics Lab
DATE: THUR. FEBRUARY 25
TIME: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Use the lego mindstorm robot package to automatically plow an arena. Participants will help design code and suggest modifications to robot geometry, to overcome environmental obstacles. Using simple algorithms and navigation aids, we’ll introduce students to the basics of autonomous robotics.
TARGET AUDIENCE: 10 years and older
RELEVANT LINKS:
Everyday Nano: Fun with Complex Fluids
FACULTY: PROF. CHRIS WIRTH, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department
DATE: FRI. FEBRUARY 26
TIME: 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Demonstration! We’ll explore complex fluids in the lab and with a microscope. The activity will consist of watching a shear thickening fluid dance and using a microscope to see microscopic particles swim! These materials are just a couple examples of complex fluids that are the basis for things we use in our everyday life: consumer products, food, and coatings.
TARGET AUDIENCE: All ages
RELEVANT LINKS:
Can you help me find my [Pu]ppy: a radioactive mystery
FACULTY LAB: PROF. CHRISTINE DUVAL, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
DATE: FRI. FEBRUARY 26
TIME: 1:00 - 1:45 p.m.
Oh no! Your radioactive puppy ran away. How can we find him? Luckily, radioactive materials leave behind clues in the environment and we can use radiation detection to learn what they mean. Join us for an interactive demonstration on nuclear engineering tools and let’s find that puppy!
TARGET AUDIENCE: Any age, but best for 5th – 8th grade
RELEVANT LINKS:
D for Degradation: An Overview of the Degradation Research at the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension Center (SDLE)
FACULTY LAB: PROF. ROGER FRENCH, Department of Materials Science and Engineering – Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension Center (SDLE)
DATE: SAT. FEBRUARY 27
TIME: 12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
At the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension (SDLE) Center, we don’t just make solar modules but we study degradation using experiments and a lot of data! Join this interactive session and get a glimpse of the ongoing research in our group.
TARGET AUDIENCE: 10+ years old
RELEVANT LINKS:
• youtube.com/channel/UCer8o-Bxh-xef_6Kdmq4Kvg
•engineering.case.edu/centers/sdle/
Thunkable App Development Workshop
ORGANIZATION: GIRLS WHO CODE
DATE: SAT. FEBRUARY 27
TIME: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Come join us as we walk you through developing a basic phone application using the Thunkable platform! We will cover basic computational concepts such as conditional programming and user interface design to help you create your first app. We will be using the Thunkable phone app (available through Google Play and the Apple App Store), as well as the corresponding website thunkable.com. Both of these resources are free of charge.
This webinar will be an introduction to basic programming for anyone who has not programmed before, and an introduction to the Thunkable platform for app development for any students who do have experience with coding.
TARGET AUDIENCE: 6th – 12th grade
Questions?
kelly.hendricks@casealum.org