Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 6, 1994 TAG: 9405060099
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By MARA LEE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Virginia Tech scientists are taking a lesson from the cyclists, using the highly hyped race to promote science as entertainment and a career. "It's working to both of our advantages now," said Beth Howell, organizer of the science and engineering expo.
The second Tour de Tech will be held Sunday through Tuesday on campus. Sunday will be bicycling day, with safety tips, a 10-mile social ride and a one-mile family ride. If it rains hard, the events will be canceled.
Monday students from every Montgomery County public school, as well as several private schools, will come see the exhibits at the Science and Engineering Expo. Howell said she expected 8,000 students to come see high-tech bikes and bike clothing, health and nutrition exhibits, microrobots, a hang glider, solar car, solar boat, concrete canoe, chemistry magic show, a smart road model - and an 83-percent solar eclipse.
Some exhibits, such as the self-steering cycle and old-fashioned penny farthing bike, have a clear connection to the race.
Others, like the smart road, robots and solar eclipse, just seemed nifty. The Center for Intelligent Material Systems, whose scientists call themselves "modern-day alchemists," want to bring elementary and middle-school students into the engineering fold, particularly girls.
Studies have shown that girls begin to lose confidence in their science and math abilities at the onset of puberty.
"Science and engineering are just not representative of the population. [Women] are different," Howell said. "It broadens the perspective of the individuals in the field."
The Tour DuPont has only male riders.
Not only will Tech researchers show off, but out-of-town guests, such as Richard Klein from the University of Illinois, will use the bike bully pulpit.
Klein has made a self-balancing, self-steering bike. Brenda Neidigh, who also works in material systems, said she thought he would be a hit. "He has an enthusiasm that is so infectious. He just makes you want to run out and study bikes with him all day. He tried to build a bike that wouldn't work and it was really hard to do." And he invites folks to test-ride his bikes Sunday.
Coloradan Davis Phinney, who has won certain stages of the Tour de France and an Olympic bronze medal, will speak Monday night at 7 p.m. in Squires Student Center's Haymarket theater. Before his speech, the public may go to a fish fry ($5 for adults, $3.50 for children ), and listen to the Blacksburg High School Jazz band, starting at 5:30.
The eclipse exhibit will be led by the Physics department, next to Squires. "Isn't that cool?" Howell said. The eclipse will be strong enough that there'll be a "kind of eerie gray darkening of the sky on Tuesday," she said. "It's a perfect tie-in."
The eclipse will last from 11:30 a.m. to 3:09 p.m., with a 1:20 p.m. peak.
Although the activities are geared to kids and their parents, Howell encouraged everyone to come out. She said, "Science is fun. Science is interesting. Science is everywhere."
by CNB