Programs & Workshops

Please review and select the desired workshop(s) that you plan to attend. While a series of workshops will be offered during both the morning and afternoon sessions, some may only be offered on a limited schedule.

Morning  Workshop  Schedule

Session One – 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

Session Two – 11:00 to 11:45 a.m.

Afternoon  Workshop  Schedule

Session Three – 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.

Session Four –   2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Given the number of expected attendees, we would prefer that all children 12 and under are accompanied by an adult or designated legal guardian. While we do have a number of volunteers from the Rensselaer campus and local community supporting the event, we do not have anyone designated to staff unaccompanied minors.

The 411: College and Careers in the Accounting and Business Profession
Afternoon session: 3, 4

Interested in learning about potential careers and academic opportunities that exist in the accounting and business professions? This discussion-based workshop is ideal for high school students who are looking for information about the field.

Age requirement = Recommended for high school students

Plasma Art Demonstration (maximum of 15 participants per session)
Morning session: 1, 2

Participants will have an opportunity to see how electricity and plasma are used to cut metals from computer-generated designs. Using plasma cutters both manual and computer numerical controlled (CNC), participants will turn their designs into reality – and create a work of art.

Age requirement = All ages

Cooking with Chemistry
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

In this workshop, students will be introduced to the basic concepts of chemistry. Through discussion and a demonstration, students will see how liquid nitrogen is used to make edible ice cream.

Age requirement = All ages

Experiment with Science
Morning and Afternoon session: 2, 3

Science can be fun and messy! Using home-made ingredients, in this workshop, students will explore the fields of science and physics as they make slime and create a tornado in a bottle

Age requirement = Recommended for students in grades 3 to 5

The Future of Light
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

Through a series of interactive experiments and demonstrations, participants will be introduced to the technology of Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s) and see how light can be used for communication, health, safety, and lighting.

Age requirement = All ages

Basic Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 3

You are the investigator. In this workshop, participants will learn a number of forensic science techniques that includes the lifting of finger prints, shoe print casting, and basic crime scene investigation.

Age requirements = All ages

The Energy Beneath our Feet
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

Geothermal power is considered to be sustainable because the hear extraction is small compared with the Earth’s heat content. In this discussion-based workshop, participants will learn about geothermal resources in the U.S., and how it can be converted to electrical power.

Age requirements = Recommended for high school students, college students, and adults

How We Harvest Power from the Wind!
Morning session: 1, 2

In this workshop, participants will get an overview of wind turbines and their major components, and learn how power is generated from wind.

Age requirement = Recommended for students ages 12 and up

Wind Turbine Kits: Learn Through Play! (maximum of 30 participants per session)
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

It’s time to build! Working in teams of 3 to 5 individuals, participants will work to design and build a mini wind turbine. During the process, teams will have an opportunity to see first-hand how modifications to blade length, width, pitch, and material choice may affect the generation of power.

Age requirement = All ages

Laser Technology Demo Show
Afternoon session: 3, 4

Lights! Lights! Everywhere!. In this workshop, participants will learn about laser technology. A laser beam is a unique form of light that continues to do wonderful things to benefit society today. Through the use of video, slides, hands-on objects, and a live laser demonstration, some of the mysteries of laser light will be revealed.

Age requirements = All ages

Mission LEGO® Robotics (maximum of 20 participants per session)
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

Are you ready to begin your mission? This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to programming LEGO® Mindstorm robotics using ROBOLAB. The robots that will be used include standard LEGO® parts and a computerized unit that can be programmed with a laptop computer to control the robots’ sensing abilities. Participants will be challenged to simulate how robots may improve safety as they travel across hazardous terrain so humans don’t have to. Participants will build and code their robot to use sensors in order to successfully pass through an artificial hazardous environment.

Age Requirements = Recommended for students ages 8 to 14

How Secure is Your Cyber Walk?
Morning and Afternoon session: 2, 3, 4

Today we live more and more of our lives in cyberspace. Between the use of computers, phones, tablets, televisions, and entertainment systems we are constantly connected to the internet. But how safe are we? In this workshop, participants will learn get some tips on how to be safe in Cyberspace.

Age Requirements = All ages

The Raft Rally: A Lesson in Buoyancy
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

Have raft. Will float or not. In this workshop, participants will work in teams to explore buoyancy – the ability of object to float. By working in teams, participants will use household products to design, build, and test their own rafts to see which will hold the most cargo on water. A prize will be given to the designers whose boat floats with the most objects.

Age Requirements = All ages

High Tech Entrepreneurship 101
Morning and Afternoon Session: 1, 2, 3, 4

Many people who go into science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields may spend their careers working for large high tech companies. But, some individuals may want to follow a different path, and start their own technology company. In this workshop, the Distinguished Gentlemen of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. will share tips on how to start your own technology company, and provide individuals with some  steps to personal success. 

Age Requirements = Recommended for middle school students and up

Virtual Turntables: Hip Hop and Computer Science
Morning and afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

Interested in making some original hip hop music? In this workshop, participants will briefly discuss the history of hip hop before creating a virtual turntable using Pure Data (PD), a musical programming language. After creating the turntable, participants will have the opportunity to make their own music.

Age Requirements = All ages

The Art and Science of Pocket Billiards
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

Interested in improving your game? Pool, also more formally known as pocket billiards (mostly in North America) or pool billiards (mostly in Europe and Australia), is the family of cue sports and games played on a pool table having six receptacles called pockets along the rails, into which balls are deposited as the main goal of play. In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to see how applying the laws of physics can help them to perform with improved style and precision.

Age Requirements = Recommended for all ages

Gumdrop Design 101
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the basic concept of civil engineering. Using gumdrops, a box of toothpicks, and other items, teams of up to eight people, will work together to design and build a bridge. Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the strongest bridge.

Age Requirements = Recommended for elementary and middle school students and up

Mothers of Invention: Black Women Inventors and Innovators – What is Missing?
Morning and Afternoon session: 2, 3

In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to view a slide presentation that showcases various inventions created by women of African descent. Following the presentation, participants will discuss and share their ideas about what they believe the world could use now, and then develop a preliminary design.

Age Requirements = All ages

What is the Internet?
Morning session: 1, 2

We use the Internet every day. But how does it really work? In this discussion-based workshop, participants will get an inside look at the Internet and the role it plays in our lives.

Age Requirements = All ages

Nanny’s Double Dutch League
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

Interested in learning how to Double Dutch? Join this group of talented students that are involved in competitive Double Dutch activities and tournaments. Growing in popularity – the rope skipping exercise is played when two ropes are turned in eggbeater fashion while a third person jumps within. Since its’ inception, Double Dutch has helped young people acquire knowledge, develop life skills, form positive and team-building attitudes, and build confidence toward becoming successful and contributing members of society.

Age Requirements = All ages

SHPE Outreach Olympics Obstacle Course
Afternoon session: 3, 4

Ready, Set, Go! The goal of this workshop is to challenge the student’s critical thinking and problem solving skills. With emphasis staying active, participants will work in teams to go through a series of obstacle courses that may include team-building, speed, and precision stations, and riddles.

Age Requirements = Recommended for high school students

Solar Energy: Light from Light
Morning session: 1, 2

In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to review the various solar power generation technologies and fundamentals, with emphasis on solar photovoltaic (PV) cells.

Age Requirements = Recommended for students ages 12 and up

Energy Storage: Making Better Use of Our Energy Resources
Afternoon session: 3, 4

This workshop will provide participants with a technical overview of energy storage technologies for grid and transportation applications.

Age Requirements = Recommended for students ages 12 and up

Can You ID Me?
Morning session: 1, 2

This workshop will provide participants with an introduction into biometrics – a field that consists of methods of recognizing humans based upon one or more physical or behavioral traits. This session will feature an informal discussion and hands-on activities.

Age Requirements = Recommended for students age 11 and up

Small Science
Morning and Afternoon session: 1, 2, 3, 4

It's teeny tiny and it's science. Join us for this introduction to nanotechnology! Students will explore the world of small as they experiment with the unusual properties of things at the nanoscale, and investigate real world applications of nano. Join us as we get really, really small and explore the new trend in science that is really, really big!

Age requirement = Recommended for students age 8 and up