Media Advisory: Robot wars, mini drones, heat shields and more spotlight Engineers Week

BUFFALO, N.Y. – It’s time to get your geek on.

Student engineers from the University at Buffalo will host dozens of events, everything from building virtual reality headsets to making the perfect salsa, as part of National Engineers Week.

The events, which run daily from Feb. 21-27, celebrate how engineers make a difference in the world. They also promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in fun and engaging ways, and highlight the diversity of student engineering clubs at UB.

All events are at the Student Union on North Campus unless otherwise noted. Here are some highlights.

Monday

• 2 to 4 p.m. – Egg drop. Can students build a contraption that’s strong yet flexible enough to help an egg survive a three-story drop?

Tuesday

• 9 to 11 a.m. – 3D-printed boat race. These tiny boats were built by students using cutting-edge technology.

Wednesday

• 9 to 11 a.m. – Cardboard sled races. Note: This is a weather dependent event set to occur outside the Student Union.
• Noon to 2 p.m. – Quadcopter races. Find out who is the best at handling these mini drones.

Thursday

• 3 to 5 p.m. – Heat shield testing. In this NASA-inspired contest, students will test how much heat their shield can handle outside the Student Union.

Friday

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Robot wars. The week’s marque event based upon the cult television show in which remote-controlled robots battle inside a cage.

Here is a full schedule of events: http://engineering.buffalo.edu/home/news-events/engineers-week/2016-calendar-of-events.html.