Engineering Expo brings student competitions, robotics displays to Speed School

The University of Louisville’s Engineering Expo, which offers student competitions, laboratory tours, robotics displays and research project discussions, is scheduled for March 5 at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

The theme of this year’s event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is “Need for Speed.” It will feature a keynote address from Kevin Tallio, senior technical leader, base engine design, for Ford Motor Co.’s Global Engine Engineering Organization. Tallio, who will speak at 2 p.m. in Strickler Hall’s Middleton Theatre, is principally responsible for defining new and upgraded engine architectures for Ford. The goal of Engineering Expo is to introduce students to opportunities in the engineering field. The event, sponsored by the Speed School Student Council, is free and open to the public. Among the highlights: * Elementary, middle and high school students will participate in a competition to test pre-built balsa-wood bridges. * Speed School students will show off racing vehicles that they have built. * And, tours will be conducted of research and teaching labs on the Belknap Campus. Parking is available behind the J.B. Speed Building on Eastern Parkway. For media interested in the competitions and demonstrations, the best times are between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.engineering-expo.com.