Published: Dec. 1, 2010

From a portable device that calculates your ultraviolet exposure to a "recycling jukebox" that plays a song when you recycle a can, the University of Colorado at Boulder's Engineering Design Expo on Saturday, Dec. 4, will feature a variety of innovations and inventions to delight the community.

More than 80 student projects will be demonstrated at the end-of-semester event. The Expo is free and open to the public from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory, located on the corner of Regent Drive and Colorado Avenue.

The semiannual demonstration of engineering projects will showcase the work of about 400 undergraduate students. Most of the students are enrolled in the popular First-Year Engineering Projects course, which allows students to practice real-world engineering design from the start of their college experience.

Working in teams throughout the fall semester to design solutions to an array of challenges, engineering students have developed various interactive video games that promote exercise, interactive 3-D puzzles for children with lights and sounds, water disinfection systems, assistive technology for people with disabilities, and much more.

Volunteers from industry, government and the community will serve as judges, rating each project on its originality, craftsmanship, as well as the students' understanding of engineering principles, presentation and effectiveness. An awards ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Members of the community can vote for their favorite project to win the coveted "People's Choice" award.

Free parking is available across the street from the ITL Laboratory in lot 436. For more information, call 303-492-7222.

-CU-