MCEER Hosts Demonstration at the Buffalo Museum of Science as Part of 2013 National Engineers Week
“And all this happens in Buffalo? Wow!” This was the standard response from the 450 or so visitors to the MCEER demonstration at the Buffalo Museum of Science on February 20, 2013. Well, actually this was the response from the adults. The response from the kids was more along the lines of “cool!”
Staffed by MCEER’s Sofia Tangalos and Andrew McNeil, the MCEER demonstration provided eye-popping 3D images of the destruction to the city of San Francisco following the 1906 earthquake and fires, a model demonstration of fluid viscous dampers provided by Taylor Devices, and a host of MCEER-developed educational web resources such as the Shake & Quake structural simulation program. Situated within an exhibit that explored the complexities of geologic phenomena like earthquakes and hurricanes called Our Marvelous Earth – and with an attribute to MCEER affixed on the wall – Sofia and Andrew were able to extend the learning to incorporate the ways in which engineers have worked towards creating a safer environment.
The event, part of National Engineers Week, was part of a week-long schedule of activities and special programming organized by the Buffalo Museum of Science. The goal was to highlight local engineers while providing fun, family-friendly activities.
National Engineers Week at the Buffalo Museum of Science (BMS).
Andrew McNeil discusses seismic dampers.
The BMS shake table simulation lab.
Intrepid visitors assemble their model house.
The model house after the calamity.
Sofia Tangalos details the destruction in the 1906 San Francisco disaster.
Fluid viscous damper model donated by Taylor Devices.
Visitors of all ages came prepared with questions.
MCEER to the Rescue!