First-ever 'ExplorACES' Event Aimed at College-Bound Students

By Jennifer Peterson, sophomore, Agricultural Communications

Would you like to measure the heart rate on a dog, take part in an interactive simulation of Donald Trump's "Apprentice," see what goes into a chimpanzee habitat, be a part of a consumer behavior experiment, play a little golf, taste foods made from fungi, and watch floral design set to music -- all in the same day?

You can do all of that and more at ExplorACES, sponsored by the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES).

On Friday March 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday March 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., students in the College of ACES will come together to give prospective students an inside look at the college's 42 majors and concentrations. The event will be held on the U of I’s Urbana campus.

While visitors of all ages are welcome, ExplorACES exhibits and tours are especially designed to appeal to college-bound students ages 12 and up.

ExplorACES attractions will include:

• Tours- Guided tours of several labs and related facilities including the Food Science Pilot Plant, Early Childhood Development Lab, Tropical Oasis and Greenhouses, and Molecular Genetics Lab will run at various times throughout the two-day event.

• "Inner Voices" Theatre Troupe- Learn about issues confronting teens and their families when human development and family studies students team up with theatre students in live dramatic performances at 11:15 each day.

• Effects of Storage Quality on Dark Chocolate- Match 3-D surface images of chocolate to different storage conditions, smell compounds in chocolate, and sample a little chocolate along the way. This is one of about 30 projects being presented by students as a part of the ACES James Scholar program.

• Full-Scale Model of the Passenger Section of a Boeing 767- Explore this life-size model and see how it is used in a U of I research project aimed at characterizing airflow and disease transmission in aircraft cabins.

• Sensory Perception- See how your senses measure up in a sensory perception lab that offers taste tests.

ACES Academic Programs and the Office of Admissions and Records will also have people available to answer any questions regarding the application and admissions processes, financial aid and other aspects of student life at U of I.

Free parking will be available on Friday and Saturday in lot E-14 just west of the Assembly Hall. Free shuttle buses will make a continuous loop from the parking lot to the Engineering Open House to ExplorACES and back again.

For more information, visit the ExplorACES website or call the ACES Student Development and Career Services office at 217/244-4540.

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences | Contact Us
© 2007 Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois