The exhibits at Engineering Discovery Days (EDD) inspire and motivate future engineers by engaging them in hands-on activities. This is your chance to show the community what engineers do and what engineering students are learning.
Registering a department exhibit
Exhibitor registration for Discovery Days 2025 is open!
Please register your group by April 4, 2025. View our resources below or contact your departmental coordinator for support designing your exhibit.
Please email engrdays@uw.edu to be added to our mailing list to receive registration updates.
Department exhibits can be located in the EDD common area or in your department building or lab. All exhibitors are asked to participate on both Thursday and Friday.
When registering, provide the following information about the exhibit:
- Contact information
- Title and short description
- Your engineering department
- Type of exhibit (hands-on, demo, tour, poster, video or other)
- If in the common area, requirements for electricity, number of tables, etc
- If in another location, details such as indoor/outdoor, building name and room number
Planning a location
Common area
For exhibits located in a common area:
- Rainier Vista
- Mueller Courtyard
- AERB Lawn
- Guggenheim South Lawn
We provide:
- Power
- Tents
- Tables and chairs
Other locations
In or around engineering departmental buildings, you must make all arrangements for chairs, tables, tents and power.
For indoor spaces, contact your departmental Discovery Days coordinator to make arrangements.
To reserve your own space outside of a building (grassy area, etc.)
- Contact your building coordinator to get permission.
- Contact 206-221-7819 for the approval of the use of that space.
Planning an engaging exhibit
The following resources will help you plan your exhibit.
Tips for engaging students | Safety | Contacts
Tips for engaging students in grades 4-8
Engineering Discovery Days appeals to students of all ages because of the interactive engineering-related exhibits. Successful exhibitors cite their ideas below for creating hands-on, interactive exhibits for students in grades 4 through 8.
Your exhibit could be a demonstration of an experiment, a workshop to teach middle school students how to conduct their own experiment, a fun activity that teaches principles of engineering through hands-on participation, or a poster representing research you've done.
Good hands-on activities have:
- Student interaction: the student handles the exhibit, tries several solutions, and creates their own understanding about it. It throws light on an idea.
- A clear and detectable idea easily relatable to the "big picture."
- Visual appeal through color, symbols, etc. to draw in students.
- An interactive element.
- A problem to solve.
Also consider:
- Is the exhibit interesting?
- Can it withstand repeated handling by visitors?
- Will this be an easy hands-on activity for students 4-8?
- Will the student’s body and mind get involved with this exhibit?
- Does it convey the idea or concept?
- Does it have aesthetic appeal?
Resources:
Safety
Be prepared and know what to do in case of an accident or incident:
- In case of an emergency, dial 911.
- Escort lost children to the Loew Hall welcome booth located right outside of Loew Hall.
- For UW personnel injuries, visit Accident and Injury Reporting for incident reporting instructions.
- See Safety Considerations for Youth in STEM Environments
Departmental event contacts
For help and more information on exhibits concerning your department, contact your departmental coordinator.
| Department/Organization | Representative |
|---|---|
| A&A |
Amy Sprague Kam Yee |
| BioE | Eric Chudler |
| CEE | Hazel Chen |
| ChemE | Nicole Minkoff Dave Drischell Ben Hornberg |
| CSE | Fernanda Jardim Amber Cochran |
| ECE |
Jessi Navarre Madeline Miller |
| HCDE | Arpita B Sua Oh |
| ISE | Patty Buchanan |
| ME | Liz Bell Kyle Luiten Bill Kuykendall |
| MSE |
Hanson Fong Carter Beamish |
| NanoES/WNF | Mark Morgan |
| Engineering Library | Mel DeSart Julie Cook |
| Clean Energy Institute | Danica Hendrickson |
| MolES | Doug Ballard |
| Maker Space | Dei Caudle |
| CoE | CoE Events office |