Sci-Quest unveils UAH-designed exhibit sponsored by Women in Defense

HUNTSVILLE – Undergraduate design students at the University of Alabama in Huntsville built the new alternative energy exhibit at Sci-Quest Hands-on Science Center.

UAH students and advisors who designed the Sci-Quest exhibit are, from left, Joey Kemp, John Means, Katy Kolasinski, Robby Renz, Robin Soprano, Debbie Fraley, Mikhail Privalov, Ronn Lawrence, Steven Artis and Dr. Christina Carmen. (CONTRIBUTED)

Sci-Quest, UAH and the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Women in Defense collaborated on the exhibit.

“The exhibit helps visitors understand the different forms of alternative energy by adding innovative hands-on exhibits to complement information at the Tennessee Valley Authority kiosk,” Sci-Quest Marketing Manager Jennifer Deermer said.

“The interactive exhibit, ‘Energy Racers,’ shows how solar and mechanical energy work by using them to power race cars,” Deermer said. “Visitors will see a model race track with two race cars. One car is powered by solar energy, the other mechanically.”

UAH engineering students in Dr. Christina Carmen’s mechanical and aerospace design class conceived, designed and constructed the solar energy exhibit for their senior design project. These UAH students are Steven Artis, Joseph Kemp, Katy Kolasinski, Ronn Lawrence, John Means, Mitul Patel, Mikhail Privalov and Robby Renz.

“This team has performed with professionalism and excellence from start to finish. Each member was dedicated to the project. The team dynamics were a prime contributor to the success of the project,” Carmen said.

At the TVA Energy Station kiosk, visitors learn about alternative power sources, such as solar energy, wind power and hydropower, with an interactive Earth on a touch screen. WID-TVC is sponsoring the solar exhibit to promote public interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and careers.

Other sponsors include LSINC, ERC Inc. and 80/20 Inc.

“The opportunity to enable children to learn about STEM activities was invaluable,” Carmen said. “The project could not have been completed without funding provided by Women in Defense and guidance by Deborah Fraley.”

Energy Racers is now on display at Sci-Quest, which is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit sci-quest.org.