3-D printed web-enabled drone and an elephant toothpaste demonstration among the many showcases
It will be hands on and high energy when Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus rolls out its annual Global Community Open House on Wednesday, March 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Nearly 3,000 visitors are expected to attend and take in more than 60 exhibits and demonstrations, watch colourful cultural performances, and check out displays in the nooks and crannies of the award-winning campus. They’ll also learn more about SFU’s wide-ranging programs and how the university engages with its communities. SFU President Andrew Petter will speak briefly and welcome the community at 4:35 p.m.
Here are some things to see and do:
See “Avian” in action—a 3-D printed web-enabled drone that is fully autonomous and can capture high-quality aerial images;
- Like explosions? Come see the exciting elephant toothpaste demonstration at the chemistry lab or make your own;
- How distracting is texting? Find out by putting yourself to the test at the distracted driving obstacle course and see how much it can affect your situational awareness and personal safety;
- See a computer-controlled components demonstration of a Halo video game cosplay suit from computing science students;
- Hear about an energy-generating shoe insole concept from Interactive Arts and Technology and Business joint-major Taylor Ward;
- Watch alternative energy conversion systems, LEGO Mindstorms and unmanned aerial vehicle demonstrations from mechatronics students;
- How about try some games at the Beedie Carnival Midway? Marketing logo Jeopardy, entrepreneurship miniature golf, accounting ring toss, finance ball toss, resume-building bean bag toss, international business blocks and more;
- Learn more about student entrepreneurial action group Enactus SFU’s programs including their Soap for Hope initiative that upcycles lightly used bar soap;
- Spin the wheel of fortune for free tuition at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences wheel and participate in a crime scene at the criminology exhibit;
- At the biology lab, touch sea stars, sea cucumbers, and other marine life native to BC waters,
- See a colourful wall of lights automatically generated from music;
- Watch “Musical Automation,” a browser-based AI program that generates musical patterns using the cellular automata algorithm;
- Drop solid carbon dioxide frozen at -79°C into water at the chemistry lab and watch what happens;
- Dress in literary costumes and take a photo with World Literature students;
- Examine preserved rats, and the skulls and skeletons that make each animal unique;
- Take a detailed look at fungi and listen to giant cockroaches hissing;
- Mix your own gross slime, explore how lava lamps work and write a secret message and watch it revealed;
- Build something that represents your career possibilities, ideas and goals at Career Services and Co-operative Education’s LEGO building station;
- See amazing student projects from Interactive Arts and Technology and Computing Science’s Software Systems program;
- Plus much more!
Live entertainment include:
- § Enjoy the sounds of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band and the upbeat taps of Heather Jolley Highland Dancers;
- § Take in the rhythm of steel drums with Carumba or the delicate moves of the Lorita Leung Chinese Dance Company and fast-paced steps of VanCity Bhangra;
- § Watch performances by Vancouver singer-songwriter Gio Levy and Surrey indie-folk/alternative band Good for Grapes, 2014 Peak Performance Project winners.
As Canada’s engaged university, SFU is defined by its dynamic integration of innovative education, cutting-edge research and far-reaching community engagement. SFU was founded almost 50 years ago with a mission to be a different kind of university—to bring an interdisciplinary approach to learning, embrace bold initiatives, and engage with communities near and far. Today, SFU is a leader amongst Canada’s comprehensive research universities and is ranked one of the top universities in the world under 50 years of age. With campuses in British Columbia’s three largest cities—Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby—SFU has eight faculties, delivers almost 150 programs to over 30,000 students, and boasts more than 130,000 alumni in 130 countries around the world.
