Friday, April 17, 2009

IDDL exhibits at KTU on April 18th!

The Importance of Excellent Communication in STEM Disciplines
Great Speeches

KTU has featured great lectures given by scientists. Scientists are doing research and they need to explain their ideas often. As a part of education in the STEM areas, it is important that scientists develop their ability to communicate their ideas effectively.

The Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning (IDDL) provides leadership, management, coordination and support for Virginia Tech’s distance learning courses. Representatives from IDDL will provide an opportunity for participants to review selected Great Speeches and to practice communication skills by presenting excerpts from the Great Speeches using technology.

www. iddl.vt.edu

Thursday, April 16, 2009

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- EXTREME PAPER AIRPLANES

Abstract- Participants will be given the opportunity to design and construct a paper airplane to compete in one of several categories being judged.
__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- MINING FOR CHOCOLATE

Abstract- A project that will expose the participants to concepts and ideas from Mining Engineering, by allowing them to excavate chocolate chips from cookies.
__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

Tau Beta Pi will be exhibiting at the April 18th KTU!

Virginia Tech is home to the Virginia Beta chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honor Society. Our chapter currently has around 100 members from all of the different engineering disciplines. We participate in many service projects, such as Relay for Life, the Big Event, and now Kids' Tech University!

Tau Beta Pi will have two booths during the April 18th, 2009 Kids' Tech University:

1) Stop by there Circuit Board booth to build a circuit board and light up an LED light! By testing different resistors on breadboards, the kids will learn how to build a circuit.

2) Origami Catapults: Make a catapult out of origami paper to demonstrate how pulling the tabs of the catapult with different forces will create different forces to shoot a paper ball.

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- ACID BASE IDENTIFICATION

Abstract- This activity gives participants the opportunity to learn about acids and bases and allows them to test several samples of common items using litmus paper.
__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- THE MALLOW BRIDGE

Abstract- Engineering Design Challenge in which teams must work together to design and construct a bridge out of marshmallows and toothpicks to hold the greatest weight.
__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- SPAGHETTI BRIDGE CHALLENGE

Abstract- Engineering Design Challenge in which teams must work together to design and construct a bridge out of spaghetti noodles that will support the largest weight.

__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- LEANING TOWER OF PONG

Abstract- Engineering Design Challenge in which teams must work together to design and construct a tower to hold a ping pong ball off the ground using the given materials and constraints.

__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Biological Systems Engineering Department will be exhibiting at KTU on April 18!

Title: How Does Groundwater Move?

Overview: Soil consists of many materials such as sand, gravel, and rocks. Each material has specific characteristics that affect how water moves through them. This hands-on display is designed to introduce students to concepts such as permeability, flow rate, and turbidity.

Activities: A model will be available to simulate groundwater flow through some typical geologic settings. Students will be able to observe the interaction between ground and surface waters. Students will also have the opportunity to create and observe the flow of water through three soil materials: sand, pea gravel, and field soil. This hands-on activity will demonstrate the different permeability and water flow rates of each material along with the turbidity created when water flows through each of the materials.

Hosted by the Biological Systems Engineering Department (http://www.bse.vt.edu)

The Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) program provides students with an opportunity to combine their interests in biological sciences and engineering. The BSE at Virginia Tech focuses primarily in two areas: Bioprocess Engineering and Land and Water Resources Engineering. Bioprocess Engineering focuses on the design and development of processes for environmentally responsible manufacturing of food and industrial products from biological materials. Areas of interest include bioenergy, renewable materials, protein recovery, byproduct utilization, bioresidue management and utilization, systems biology, food safety, food engineering, biopharmaceuticals, and enzymes. Land and Water Resources Engineering focuses on environmental protection and natural resources management. Areas of interest include nonpoint source pollution (water pollution caused by rainfall and runoff from land surfaces such as parking lots, golf courses, urban areas, agricultural fields, and construction sites), stream wetland restoration, low impact development, and watershed management.

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- TOWER CONSTRUCTION

Abstract- Engineering design challenge in which teams must work together to build a tower out of provided materials.

__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- CREATING THE SPECTRUM

Abstract- Participants will be able to explore some of the basics of Chemical Engineering by experimenting with mixtures of colors to produce a variety of given colors from the spectrum.

__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- RAFT CHALLENGE

Abstract- Engineering Design Challenge in which teams must design and construct a raft to float the greatest number of pennies.

__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- FLOAT YOUR MARBLES

Abstract- Engineering Design Challenge in which teams must design and construct a boat with the given materials to float the most marbles.

__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

Alex Leonessa will be exhibiting for KTU!

Dr. Alex Leonessa will be bringing back the Lego Mindstorm Kits from the "Technology centered" KTU day!! We are giving him a whole classroom to spread out, so there will be plenty to do!!

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- EXTRACTION EXPERIENCE

Abstract- This activity will encourage critical thinking and will allow participants to learn about material properties as they attempt to separate a mixture of materials.
__________________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

CEED is exhibiting at KTU on April 18, 2009!

Exhibit title- APPLES, BANNANAS, AND LEMONS

Abstract- This activity will give participants the opportunity to learn about electrical circuits and will allow them to experiment with creating a circuit of their own with various materials.
_______________________________
CEED

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) at Virginia Tech is dedicated to enriching the engineering profession through increased diversity. Our programs are targeted to current engineering students at Virginia Tech, prospective students, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s pre-college community.

The objectives and goals of the office are:

· to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll in, and graduate from the College of Engineering;

· to increase the awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path to a diverse population;

· to provide access to academic, professional, and personal support programs;

· to provide support to student organizations that support our mission, including the Association for Women in Computing, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Council for the Advancement of Minority Engineering Organizations; and

· to foster collaboration between the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, the University, industry, and the local community to support our mission.

Virginia Tech students are among the best and brightest - our office recognizes this, and through various activities, we assist them in achieving the excellence of which they are capable. Information about the wide range of support services offered can be found online at http://www.eng.vt.edu/ceed. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (540-231-7404) or email (ceed@vt.edu).

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Department of Geosciences Outreach and the Planetary Geology class is exhibiting on the April 18th KTU!

Exhibitor title- Craters on Mars!

Department of Geosciences outreach and the Planetary Geology class will share information about Mars, the Mars Missions, and how scientists do research from so far away. Hands-on activities include figuring out your age and weight on Mars, measuring craters on an image from Mars, and actually making model impact craters to learn more about them. At home--have you checked out the new GoogleMars website? earth.google.com, then click on the "sun" icon and go to Mars!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Dr. Chris Williams is exhibiting at KTU on April 18th!

Exhibit title- How might astronauts make replacement parts for their spacecraft while in space?

Abstract- Our display would be centered on rapid prototyping technology (RP). RP (also known as a 3D Printing) is a technology in which objects are created by “printing” material in a 3D fashion to form objects that have been previously drawn on the computer. The technology is primarily used to help engineers quickly create prototypes of new products that they are designing. Astronauts might one day use this technology to create replacement parts for their spacecraft while on long-term space missions (thus tying into the day’s lecture).

Our display will be centered on a specific small-scale RP technology called a "Fabber." The device that we will have on display is similar to the one shown here. You can see it in action here. Our goal is to educate participants about the concepts of RP through this small-scale device.

While not necessarily a "hands-on" activity, our booth would feature the machine "printing" participants' initials (or the VT logo) from either cheese whiz or cake frosting onto a cracker for their consumption. We will also provide examples of parts made by our large-scale research machines as well as videos of those machines in action.
_________________________________________________
Dr. Williams is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech with a joint appointment in the Mechanical Engineering (www.me.vt.edu) and Engineering Education (www.enge.vt.edu) departments. His joint appointment reflects his diverse research interests which include layered manufacturing, design education, and product design. The construction of the Fab@Home machine has been funded by a grant sponsored by the VT Arts Initiative. Through this project the team is exploring the integration of the Fab@Home system in schools to provide a context for teaching students basic math, science, and engineering principles. To learn more about this project and some of Dr. Williams's other research projects, please visit: http://www.me.vt.edu/dreams/

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Chi Delta Alpha volunteers for KTU!

Chi Delta Alpha is the only all-female community service sorority at Virginia Tech. Their mission statement entails that they are "dedicated to the community through unselfish service." They have over 40 active sisters this semester, each doing 25 service hours or more. Chi Delta Alpha participates in over 50 different service projects throughout the community and New River Valley. Service projects include, special olympics bowling and swimming, Kid's Night Out at the women's center, food banks, humane societies, tutoring programs and much more. They even attended a Habitat for Humanity trip this past January, where 24 girls worked for a week on the construction of homes in West Palm Beach Florida.

If you want any more information about them, feel free to check out there website visit: http://www.chideltaalpha.org.vt.edu.
_________________

Chi Delta Alpha Sisters,

On behalf of KTU and the students and parents attending KTU, I would like to say thank you for all you dedicated service! KTU would not exist without volunteers like yourselves.

Thank you,
Kristy

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) will be exhibiting on April 18th!

Exhibit Title: Factoring in the Human Element

Abstract:
The students will be able to participate in activities that look at different aspects that must be considered when humans must work with engineering designs. Movements will be captured using a full body suit containing sensors to display the image on a computer. Teams of students will also explain the design of an object so that it can be replicated, highlighting the importance of communication and teamwork. A third activity will involve a task to show the effects of stress on attention and a fourth will look at sounds present in the environment.

The mission of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) is to promote the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds. The Virginia Tech HFES student chapter has historically been one of the largest and most active student chapters of the national society. The chapter has a diverse group of undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral researchers from the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE).