Engineering Students Serve up Egg Drop, Sumo Wrestling

WHAT: Students in the UC Davis College of Engineering host their annual Engineering Week. Under the theme "Battle of the Brains," students in the six engineering majors will compete at a "Jeopardy"-style knowledge contest; a dunk-the-professor throwing event; and a sumo wrestling competition, in which the wrestlers will wear inflated body suits. The week ends with the popular (and messy) egg-drop competition for local students through high-school grades, who design, build and test containers that they think will protect eggs in a six- story fall. WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 23: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Sumo Wrestling, Bainer Hall lawn Thursday, Feb. 24: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Jeopardy Challenge, Bainer Hall lobby Friday, Feb. 25: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. -- Egg Drop, Physics/Geology Building. 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. -- Lab tours, leaving lobby of Engineering II on the half-hour. 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. -- Dunk the Professor, Bainer Hall lawn. WHERE: University of California, Davis VISUALS: All competitions should provide entertaining photos and video. In particular, the Egg Drop involves students of all ages from the Davis-Woodland-Sacramento area who wrap raw eggs in protective vehicles they have designed, then see if the eggs can survive the six-story drop from the roof of the Physics/Geology Building. In previous years, eggs have been tucked in foam footballs, padded boxes, parachutes, a rubber chicken and a rag doll. Journalists could come Friday for the Egg Drop, take a lab tour, then catch the dunking competition. BACKGROUND: Engineering Week, established in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is held annually to bring public attention to the work of the nation's engineers, past and present. At UC Davis, engineering students hope to raise awareness of their projects and come together for fun and educational events. PARKING: Media can always park free on the UC Davis campus in any non-reserved parking space. If your vehicle is not marked, place a media business card on the dashboard.

Media Resources

Andy Fell, Research news (emphasis: biological and physical sciences, and engineering), 530-752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu