Rock crushing, virtual reality, space simulations and rambunctious robotics were on full display Saturday at Usibelli Engineering Building on the University of Alaska Fairbanks Troth Yeddha Campus.
The College of Engineering and Mines hosted its annual open house event, cementing a weeklong series of events celebrating Engineering Week.
Staff, faculty and students volunteered efforts and interacted with budding engineers and interested members of the public about the various fields the college’s nine programs offer.
Visitors received a tour of the various labs, with activities set up for younger children.
On the Usibelli Building’s first floor, UAF junior geological engineering student Noah Goltz demonstrated the various pressure point ratings when crushing minerals.
Goltz encouraged people to guess the pressure value of each mineral or geode and wrote the actual value on a whiteboard.
He said he selected geological engineering as a focus because of its hands-on applications. As an engineering student, he added he sees value in the open house event.
“This is a good way to get some valuable insight into the field,” Goltz said. For his particular discipline, he said “it’s a combination of outdoor fun and working on something you can take pride in.”
Quetzal Larrick, the laboratory manager for the Space Systems Engineering Program, was demonstrating the boiling and freezing points for water in a vacuum chamber.
Larrick, who grew up in Fairbanks, said he recalled similar events the college hosted.
“When I was growing up, the collage did the same stuff and I think it contributed to me becoming an engineer,” Larrick said.
He added any event or activities that inspire future generations are a benefit.
“Our future engineers are extremely important to building the future infrastructure of our state and nation,” Larrick said.
Kristen Reece, an interdisciplinary studies student and a member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society National Conference UAF chapter, was overseeing a group of children building structures from marshmallows and spaghetti strands.
“They make it look easier than it really is,” Reece said.
Reece volunteered for the Saturday open house as a way to encourage young minds to develop an interest in engineering and science.
“It’s very important, especially in how they view researchers and scientists every day regular people and that they can be inspired to make a difference,” Reece said.
