2024 CSEF Tours & Presentations
Tour pre-registration will begin on Monday, March 25th and be open until Wednesday, April 3rd. Please note that some of these will be updated during this time as we make final confirmations of presenters and times. For that reason, students and teachers will only be allowed to preregister for 1 tour or presentation. Additional ones can be sign-up for on Thursday, April 11th between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. during set-up. We also will not be able to confirm tour registrations prior to CSEF – just note that we will do our best to get you into one of your choices!
Registrations are now open!
Student Tour/Presentation Registration Form
Teacher Tour/Presentation Registration Form
Colorado State University: Human & Animal Anatomy/Physiology Lab Tour
Participants will be provided an introductory tour of the different types of specimens on display (osteologic, plasticated, embalmed, radiographs, etc.), some interesting anatomical and clinical facts about the specimens, and instructions on how to properly handle them. They will then be free to explore the specimens (with provided non-latex gloves) while interacting with the instructors and teaching assistants. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore the Virtual Reality version of our Virtual Animal Anatomy programs. For the human anatomy part, participants are introduced to the study of anatomy through a general tour of the lab facility and a demonstration using isolated human organs such as heart, brain, liver, lung, etc. Tours are given by CSU Biomedical Sciences Students at 12 p.m. and are 2 hours long. There is a strict zero photography policy in our lab spaces.
This tour requires a separate permission form to be signed by the parents and turned into CSEF.
Each tour is limited to 30 people (one will be for Junior division students and the other for Senior division students – make sure you select the correct one.
Fort Collins Historic Weather Station Tour
Participants tour of one of the longest operating weather stations in the western United States, showcasing the instruments that are used to measure temperature, humidity, precipitation, evaporation, winds, solar radiation and more. Participants will also learn how the data are used and how they can access the data for themselves. Tours are given by Noah Newman, Educational Coordinator for CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative, Rain, Hail & Snow Network), at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Each tour will be limited to 25 people total.
Colorado State University: Greenhouse Tour
The tour will include the growth chamber, greenhouse bays and the conservatory where participants will get to see banana, pomegranate and coffee trees, a beautiful collection of orchids and even a turtle, fish and toad. Presentations will be given by Tammy Brenner, Plant Growth Facility Manager, at 1 p.m.
This tour will be limited to 20 people.
Colorado State University: Walter Scott Jr. College of Engineering Tour
Participants will take an in-depth tour of CSU’s engineering facilities by visiting the Engineering Building and the Scott Bioengineering Building. Participants will see a Jet Engine Demo in the Mechanical Engineering department; visit the SMASH Lab in Civil & Engineering; and experience the Creator Space AI Identification in the Electrical Engineering department. The tour is given by Engineering Student Ambassadors at 10:20 a.m. and lasts for 1 1/2 hours.
This tour will be limited to 25 people.
Colorado State University: Multifunctional Polymers & Composites Lab Tour
This group works on manufacturing with polymer and composite materials (including 3D printing). Participants will get to see some samples and live demos from their research. Tours are presented by Carter Dojan, PhD student in Materials Science & Engineering and Dr. Mostafa Yourdkhani, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Each tour will be limited to 15 people each.
Colorado State University: Natural Sciences Education & Outreach Center High Tech Rocks! STEM Kit Experience
Participants will get to experience the NSEOC’s hands-on High Tech Rocks! STEM Kit that is based on the research of Jamie Neilson, Department of Chemistry and possibly come away with next year’s science fair project idea! Learn the science behind the technology in your electronic devices! Become a solid-state chemist by manipulating natural materials (like minerals) to produce useful physical properties (like magnets). The experience is led by NSEOC Teachers-in-Residence at 11 a.m. and lasts for 2 hours.
This experience will be limited to 30 people.
Timnath Elementary School: Star Lab
Experience the galaxy close up in this portable planetarium. Presentations are given by Timnath Elementary School students at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Each presentation will be limited to 20 people.
The Dangers of Salinity in Colorado: What Is the Problem and How Can We Fix It?
Salt in the environment is harmful to fish and waterfowl, can damage soils and limit crop growth and production. Where does this salt come from? How can we manage it? This talk by Dr. Ryan Baily, Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering, will explore these topics and you may come away with your next science fair research project! Presentation begins at 2 p.m.
This presentation is limited to 30 people.
Colorado State University: Department of Biology
CSU’s Department of Biology is a place where everyone is welcome to indulge their curiosity about the living world. Participants will get to experience our teaching collection filled with 14,000 specimens. Tours are given by Kristin Kerr, Biology Undergraduate Program Coordinator, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Each tour is limited to 25 people.
How Fast Is a Picosecond, and What Can It Tell US About Metabolic Health & Disease?
Shooting Mitochondria with Ultrafast Laser Pulses
Our lab uses extremely short laser pulses and high-intensity optical interactions to see inside biological cells and tissues. This talk will focus on our efforts to develop new diagnostic technologies to help doctors in their efforts to evaluate and treat mitochondrial diseases, which impact the cell’s ability to produce the energy needed to sustain life. This presentation is given by Dr. Jesse Wilson, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at 1 p.m.
This presentation is limited to 30 people.
High Tech Rocks! Material Sciences Presentation
Materials science is the study of how we turn rocks we find in the ground into functional devices. What are the materials that allow us to turn sunlight into electricity? What is it about a material that allows us to have phones and cars that run on electricity? How do we find and make new materials? Come on a journey that brings together abstract patterns (symmetry) within chemistry with origins in blacksmithing and cooking in ways that enable our current technology-enabled society. This presentation is given by Dr. Jamie Neilson, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at 11:30 a.m.
This presentation is limited to 30 people.
Microbial Mingle – Learn about microbes and how to communicate science through an inclusive lens!
This presentation will highlight cutting edge research in inclusive science communication and give participants the opportunity to engage in a hands-on activity focusing on microbes and the immune system. Participants will have the chance to feel like a scientist and practice how they might communicate about microbiology in an inclusive way. This presentation is given by Delaney Worthington, PhD candidate in Microbiology at 11:00 a.m.
This presentation is limited to 30 people.
