ABE Hosts Students From Across the State for Illini Summer Academy

Published Jul 17, 2009

Twelve students from across Illinois participated in the University of Illinois’ Illini Summer Academy through the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

“These students ranged from 14 to 17 years of age,” said Anne Marie Boone, student academic program coordinator for the Department, “and they spent three days on the U of I campus, participating in activities designed to introduce them to the University, as well as the fields of ag and bio engineering and technical systems management.”

The Department’s schedule for the students offered a variety of presentations, tours and activities, said Boone, including:

• A presentation by Professor Tony Grift on the research in agricultural robotics being done in the Department.
• A demonstration of an air cannon by Professor Grift and undergraduate student Ed Roy. Air cannons are used for various purposes in agriculture, such as a “puncher-planter,” and for general safety testing. Students were able to use the cannon to shoot apples and potatoes into a mini-fridge.
• A GPS ‘treasure hunt’ designed by Professor Grift. Students were each given a handheld GPS (global positioning system) device and the coordinates for several campus locations. The student who reached the last location first received two Illini ABE t-shirts.
• A tour of the University of Illinois Solar Decathlon house. The US Department of Energy sponsors a bi-annual competition that joins 20 college and university teams in a competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. Dr. Xinlei Wang is a member of the team from the U of I.
• A tour focused on the Department’s research in renewable energy. Professor Lance Schideman spoke to the students about the use of algae in the production of biodiesel; Professor Alan Hansen talked about the Department’s involvement with the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) and the multi-campus effort to devise viable solutions to global energy challenges. A presentation on ethanol was given in the lab of Dr. Vijay Singh, and students also heard about the research done by Dr. Yuanhui Zhang to convert swine manure to crude oil using thermo-chemical conversion (TCC).
• Individual projects to assemble a soldering kit. Professor Kaustubh Bhalerao worked with individuals to assemble small kits that simulated a ‘wheel of fortune’ light display, the blinking light of a car alarm, the sound of a metronome, or the sound of a dripping faucet.
• Team projects to construct and race small "micro steam" cars fueled by ethanol. Extension specialists Randy Fonner and Matt Roberts worked with each team to construct a race car from a kit that contained all of the necessary parts. A competition was held the last day of the academy, and prizes were given to the team whose car traveled the farthest.

“This was the first year the Department has participated in the ISA,” said Boone, “and I almost wish we had more time. Three days wasn’t really enough. The Academy is highly intensive, and the students were occupied almost every minute of those three days.

“But we were able to show them some of the great things we do in our department,” she concluded, “and I think it was a good introduction to our program.”

Undergraduate student Edward Roy shows a group of potential Agricultural and Biological Engineering students how an Air Cannon works.

Katrina Ponder of Tuscola, and Billy Hatfield of Wayne City, construct micro-steam cars.

Zachary Ehlers of Collom, Mitchell Bentsen of Champaign, and Stanley Lloyd of Girard, Illinois all participate in a micro steam car race.

Tyler Johnson of Seneca, Billy Hatfield of Wayne City, and Jesse Haarmann of Effingham, Illinois all participate in a micro steam car race.

News writer: Leanne Lucas

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