MOSCOW, ID – More than 1,300 Idaho students will gather on University of Idaho’s Moscow campus during two of the state’s largest STEM innovation showcase events, the U of I Engineering Design EXPO and Invent Idaho State Finals on Friday, April 25.
The public is invited to experience the many ways Idaho students are making a difference and solving real-world problems at these free, all-day events.
U of I Engineering Design EXPO
U of I student teams will present projects from 9 a.m. to noon during EXPO in the ICCU Arena. Project details are available to browse online.
EXPO projects include one of the first NASA-patented proof of concept Prandtl-D flying wing to demonstrate the commercial viability of tailless unmanned aerial vehicles. Looking like a boomerang, the Prandtl-D design mimics bird flight, using twists in its wingtips for maneuvering. The unique design reduces drag, and NASA research indicates a 12% reduction in fuel consumption.
Student projects are the culmination of the U of I College of Engineering’s Interdisciplinary Capstone Design Program, recognized by the National Academy of Engineering as one of the top seven in the nation for infusing real-world experiences into undergraduate education.
The public is also invited to the EXPO’s keynote address presented by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) President David Whitehead at 12:30 p.m. in the ICCU Arena.
Whitehead joined SEL in 1994 as a hardware engineer and since then has held various roles, including chief operating officer and CEO. He led SEL’s research and development division for over a decade, earning more than 70 patents for innovations in power grid protection and cybersecurity.
Invent Idaho State Finals
This year, U of I College of Engineering is partnering with Idaho’s leading innovation and entrepreneurial learning nonprofit Invent Idaho to deliver opportunities to young inventors across the state.
Celebrating 35 years, Invent Idaho delivers innovation and entrepreneurial learning opportunities statewide. The program is one of the leading informal invention learning programs in the United States and a founding member of the Invention Convention Worldwide.
A public showroom will be open 3-5 p.m. in the Integrated Research and Innovation Center (IRIC). The public is invited to explore inventions and entrepreneurial projects from 150 young inventors in first through 12th grade from schools across Idaho.
Judges will score student projects and finalists will be recognized at the Invent Idaho State Finals award ceremony Saturday, April 26. Finalists will be invited to compete at Invention Convention U.S. Nationals in Dearborn, Michigan, in early June.