High-School Students Will Talk with Robot and Explore Engineering Careers at Colorado State University

Colorado high-school students, teachers, parents and the public can explore engineering careers and interact with a high-tech robot on Feb. 14 at Colorado State University’s Engineering Careers Day.

Engineering Careers Day, which runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., features laboratory demonstrations and gives participants the chance to discuss engineering majors and careers with faculty and learn more about undergraduate study and life at Colorado State. The event will begin with an interactive robot presentation in Room 228 of the Lory Student Center on campus. This year’s special guests will be Zed, a gremlin-like robot, and his creator Victor Lang, Colorado State computer engineering graduate and co-founder and vice president of SEMBORG Corp., a Fort Collins-based robotics research and development company.

"Vic Lang motivates students by showing them that engineering is fun and that the opportunities are limitless," said Tom Siller, College of Engineering acting associate dean. "Lang’s presentation will be an entertaining way to kick off Careers Day and to peak students’ interest in finding out where different engineering degrees can lead."

Lang will deliver opening remarks through his interactive robot Zed, an animated character that talks and gestures through a computer link to Lang. Lang’s presentations are designed to help students understand the importance of technology and to encourage interested students to study engineering.

"Education is a vital element to success, but without direction toward a goal it is useless knowledge," Lang said. "I hope I can help people see what they want to do with their lives, for then they will seek the knowledge and their education will have purpose and meaning."

After Lang’s presentation, Colorado State engineering professors will describe the university’s bioresource and agricultural, chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, engineering science and mechanical engineering programs. Participants can view demonstrations in the college’s biochemical, electrical, geotechnical and student computer laboratories, and there will be afternoon panel discussions with current engineering students for high-school students and parents. In addition, a session geared primarily for women and minority students in engineering will be offered. Scholarships and financial aid will also be discussed.

The event is free and registration can be made over the phone in advance or in person at 9 a.m. the day of the event outside Room 228 in the Lory Student Center. An optional lunch will be available for $6.50. Those planning to buy the lunch should register in advance.

For more information or to register for the day, contact Linda Jensen in the College of Engineering at (970) 491-6220.