News & Events
2008 Summer Electronics Camp
Sixteen high school students from southeastern Idaho recently participated in ISU's Summer Electronics Camp. Campers were 9th-12th grade students from area high schools who had interests in electronics, robots, radio and television, and computer and automation technologies.
In addition to the camp at ISU, 32 girls from 10 to 16 years old attended an Electronics Energy Camp in Idaho Falls. This camp put emphasis on the use of energy in the electronics field. One of the campers summed up the experience by saying “I loved the hand-on and the field trip. I want to come here next year.”
ISU offers introductory and advanced program levels to fit camp content to the knowledge and skills of participants. "The kids really seemed to enjoy themselves," said Rick Buffaloe, an ISU Instructor and camp counselor, "they had a good time building and racing their electric cars.” Camp activities include building projects that apply electronics technology including, electric cars, audio amplifiers, radios and fiber optic transmission.
Students also participated in field trips to several locations to see applications of Electronics. Visits to Idaho Power's American Falls generating station, a local television studio, the biomedical technology section of a hospital and the Idaho Accelerator all provided insight into how electronic systems are used to make the modern world function. "We see kids come in with curiosity about how things work and get really excited when they discover that not only can they learn more about it, but they can be active participants in developing the technology" said Senior ISU Instructor Wesley Womack.
ISU Summer Electronics Camp is designed to offer students exposure to electronics technology. In addition to projects and field trips, students participate in projects in ISU's various electronics laboratories including lasers, instrumentation and systems automations, television transmission, digital control, and radio frequency.
The ISU Electronics Department offers camps each summer. For more information, contact the ISU Electronics Department.
INL EXPO
The Idaho State University Electronics Department joined the
INL and more than 40 other Idaho science and technology exhibitors
during the three-day (September 22 and 23rd) INL Expo at the Museum of Idaho to bring
hands-on learning activities to Idaho students. The Expo is an event
designed to expose students, their teachers and parents to a wide and diverse
range of potential careers in technology, mathematics and the sciences.
This year the Expo was focused on the World Year
of Physics, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s “Miraculous Year.”
In 1905, Einstein wrote several extraordinary papers that showed that atoms are
real, presented his special theory of relativity and laying the foundations
for quantum mechanics. The theme of the Expo was “Up & Atom”.
Students visiting the ISU Electronics display had the opportunity to control robotic crawlers and shot a remotely controlled
pneumatic Gatling Gun, play a laser harp and investigate sound being
driven through amplifiers and monitored on an oscilloscope.
ISU offers these hands-on and interactive presentations to
local schools and civic organizations. Contact the ISU Electronics
Department at 282-3400 for more information.
