ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 17, 1996 TAG: 9604170016
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TRACY GALLIMORE STAFF WRITER
Young Einsteins from all over the New River Valley will attend the "Tour de Tech," an educational science and engineering exposition this week at Virginia Tech.
The theme, "Hands On: Science and Engineering," emphasizes the diversity of science and engineering. Technologies developed at Virginia Tech that apply to daily life will be demonstrated by scientists and engineers. Specialists in human nutrition and agriculture also will demonstrate applications in their fields.
Planned to coincide with the Tour DuPont's annual trek through Blacksburg, the event is sponsored by the Center for Intelligent Material Systems and Structures at Virginia Tech and Montgomery County public schools. Last year, more than 5,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade attended the exposition.
The exposition will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the Squires Student Center's Commonwealth Ballroom.
The diverse program includes "Fun with Polymers: Making Slime," by Jeannine Eddleton, of the chemistry department; "The Smart House," by Jim LaPorte, of technology education and "MOOSburg: A Virtual Reality" by Gary Hardcastle, of the philosophy department.
Tour DuPont's Stage 6 finish in Blacksburg will be May 6.
"There is a lot of science and technology involved in bicycling." said Beth Howell, coordinator for the event. "There is the science of nutrition for cyclers, the engineering that goes into fabrics for racing wear and the technology and physics involved in how bikes are designed."
Richard Klein, director of the Bicycle Research Institute and professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Illinois is an expert in bicycle-related research. Klein's demonstration of unusual and historical bicycles will show the evolution and future of the bicycle. A two-wheeler that steers from the rear, an old-fashioned penny farthing and a bicycle that is impossible to ride (you can try!) will be included in his display.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB