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Inside Iowa State
July 23, 1999

ABC replica, solar car at Iowa State Fair

by Inside Iowa State staff
Recent hot weather is a reminder that the Iowa State Fair is just three weeks away and plans are nearly complete for another strong Iowa State presence at the fair. Be sure to stop by some of these exhibits during your annual trek to east Des Moines. The fair runs Thursday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 22.

Car, replica, tattoos
The university's main exhibit again will be in the northeast corner of the Varied Industries Building, on the fair's main concourse across from the Grandstand. The exhibit helps launch this year's all-university celebration, "Advancing technology to become the best." Highlights of the exhibit include the replica of the ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer), the world's first electronic digital computer; and PrISUm Phoenix, the Iowa State solar car that last month captured fifth place in Sunrayce 99. The team also received the "Best Use of Technology" award in the national race. Members of the student race team will be on hand to answer questions.

Representatives of the enrollment services office will be available to respond to questions about enrolling and studying at Iowa State. Visitors who want to guide their own tour of Iowa State can use College View, an interactive CD-ROM.

Iowa State employees will take turns applying free, temporary Cyclone tattoos to the arms, faces and ankles of fairgoers. Free football posters also will be distributed.

Fairgoers can sign up for daily drawings for tickets to a Season at Stephens event, Cyclone football game and an Iowa State T-shirt.

The tap test
Also in the Varied Industries Building will be the Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT) and Ames Laboratory exhibit. Showcased will be the 11 IPRT centers and three outreach programs. Fairgoers will have a chance to check out an instrumented tap test -- a new system developed by IPRT scientists to improve the way defects in aircraft parts are detected.

WOI Radio has teamed up with ISU Extension again and will have an exhibit under the Grandstand. Market Report, Talk of Iowa and Midday will be broadcast live from the fair. In addition, on-air personalities will make guest appearances at the exhibit. Check WOI's Website at www.woi.org for a schedule of who will be there when.

Orr discusses carbon monoxide
Extension staff will conduct surveys on carbon monoxide to determine what the public knows about this deadly gas. Results of the daily surveys will be broadcast on WOI, and posted at the fair and on the Extension Web page (www.extension.iastate.edu). Former ISU coach Johnny Orr, who had a close call with carbon monoxide poisoning, will be at the booth during part of the fair to help provide information.

In addition, a miniature house will be used to demonstrate how carbon monoxide moves through a dwelling. Prizes to be given away include carbon monoxide alarms and the ISU Extension garden calendar.

ISU Extension will be all over the fair, through thousands of 4-H displays, presentations and animal and horticulture exhibits. 4-H'ers will showcase their knowledge and talents daily through the communication program, "Share the Fun," in the 4-H Building. The 4-H'ers will give educational demonstrations, present working exhibits (a hands-on experience) and demonstrate their talents through skits and musicals.

The College of Family and Consumer Sciences also will have a display in the 4-H Building. Called "4-H Leads to Careers," it features students from the college who were in 4-H, with comments about how their 4-H projects have helped them at Iowa State. The college also has a handout of Family and Consumer Sciences majors and careers.

Test ag knowledge In the College of Agriculture's display in the Agriculture Building, fairgoers can learn about the history of Iowa agriculture and the role the college has played. This year's theme for the exhibit is "Iowa Agriculture: A Rich Heritage -- An Exciting Future." Children will be able to create their own farm scenes using rubber stamps and test their knowledge of Iowa agriculture with a quiz. High school students will be able to explore ISU through an interactive CD-ROM. Daily drawings will be held for a college mug; the grand prize will be a year-long family membership to Living History Farms.

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Revised 07/23/99