Energy from wind will allow 400+ middle and high school students to deliver cargo using their created devices in up to four different performance fields at UVM on Saturday, December 1, in the tennis court area of the Patrick Gym from 8 am to 1 pm.

The University of Vermont's College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences UVM Design Technology and Society Connection (TASC): Blowing in the Wind challenges students to design and build "ships" to transport cargo using only wind energy from box fans. Each device must fit within an 11" x 17.5" x 10" paper box and must transport a variety of cargo — pennies, nuts and washers — downwind, upwind, across the wind, and around an island.

Approximately 50 teams from 24 schools will compete for over $16,500 in prizes sponsored by businesses. The top prize category is sponsored by IBM with four ThinkPads to the top four schools in the Highest Scoring category. Other awards include Pizzagalli Cargo Movement, Qimonda Fastest Downwind, General Dynamics Most Cargo Transported, Goodrich Uphill Winners, IEEE Design Notebook, Husky Marketing, TIAA-CREF Spectator's Choice, NRG Systems Table Display, and Verizon Team Spirit. Awards will be given between 1:30 and 2:30 pm.

The schools participating in the 2007 UVM Design TASC are:

Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax Burlington HS, Burlington Burr and Burton Academy, Manchester Champlain Valley UHS, Hinesburg Center for Technology, Essex Colchester HS, Colchester Colchester Middle School, Colchester CV-TECH Plattsburgh, NY Enosburg Falls HS, Enosburg Hanover HS, NH Hazen Union School, Hardwick Lake Region UHS, Orleans

Missisquoi Valley Union HS, Swanton Mt. Abraham HS, Bristol Mt. Mansfield Union HS, Jericho Northfield HS, Northfield Oxford Academy, Westbrook, CT Proctor HS, Proctor River Valley Technical Center, Springfield Rutland HS, Rutland Sharon Academy, Sharon SMA Taruna Nusantara, Indonesia St. Johnsbury Academy, St. Johnsbury Vermont Commons School, So. Burlington

For rules and more information, please go to TASC.

Technology Knowledge Fair (Scouts in Engineering) — Middle school students

CEMS has partnered with General Dynamics, the Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the Girl Scout Council of Vermont to offer introductory educational opportunities for girls and boys, ages 12-17, in technology-related subjects. The program will be held in conjunction with UVM Design TASC: Blowing in the Wind on Saturday, December 1, at UVM.

Students do not need to be scouts to participate in these exciting hands-on activities that include: aviation, architecture, computers, electricity, engineering, energy, geology, hunter safety, metals, radio, photography, space exploration, and surveying. (All activities will be held on the UVM campus.)

For more information on the Technology Knowledge Fair, contact Denise Tongas at 654-2566 or dtongas@smcvt.edu.