A hand-propelled scooter for a child with cerebral palsy, a "Rube Goldberg" coin-sorting machine and a wagon that rolls on square wheels are among the creative inventions to be demonstrated at the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory's Spring Design Expo at CU-Boulder on Saturday, April 28.
The Expo, which is free and open to the public, will showcase about 50 projects designed and built by CU engineering students, including interactive learning exhibits, assistive technology devices designed for individual clients, and Rube Goldberg contraptions, which go through a number of consecutive steps to perform a simple task.
Projects will be on display and demonstrated to the community from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. An awards ceremony will be held at 3 p.m.
The Expo will be held in the College of Engineering and Applied Science's award-winning Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory, located on Regent Drive south of Colorado Avenue.
The event provides an opportunity for young students, along with their parents and teachers, to see engineering in action in a university setting. Visitors also can explore the ITLL's many interactive, hands-on exhibits, which allow kids of all ages to learn science and engineering concepts in interesting ways.
Free parking is available during the event in Lot 436 or the Regent Drive Autopark, both located across the street from the ITL Laboratory.
About half of the projects exhibited at the Expo were designed by first-year engineering students, who work in interdisciplinary groups to solve a design challenge. Many senior design projects, which represent the culmination of a student's learning over four years, also will be on display.
Projects will be judged by volunteers from industry, government and the community. Visitors also may vote for their favorite project to win the "People's Choice" award.
For more information about the ITL Laboratory and its programs for undergraduates and K-12 students call (303) 492-7222 or visit .