Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Stout is set to host its STEMM Student Expo on December 12, showcasing projects from first-year to senior students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The event will take place at the Memorial Student Center and will feature applied research and creative activities by students from the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management.

Students will present a variety of projects including prototypes and problem-solving initiatives for industrial or community partners. Among the participants are 23 Honors Chemistry first-year students who have developed their own chemistry lab projects. Notably, one team created biodiesel while another investigated how lab chemicals affect clothing and skin.

Professor Marcia Miller-Rodeberg allowed her Honors Chemistry students to choose their project topics for the expo. "The point of these projects is to give the students an opportunity to explore things that are interesting to them and learn how to conduct experiments," she stated.

Connor Tieman and Carter Tieman, twin brothers majoring in mechanical engineering and environmental science respectively, focused on creating biodiesel from canola oil. Connor explained their interest: "We became interested when researching renewable energy and the chemistry behind the process."

Another project by Lauren Barclay and Allie Turany tested how different materials withstand exposure to common lab chemicals. They aimed to determine if warnings about chemical toxicity were exaggerated or truthful.

The STEMM Expo is part of a series of events at UW-Stout this week. The Stout Game Expo will occur on December 11 featuring game design projects from around 250 students. Additionally, the School of Art and Design Senior Show will be held on December 13 displaying works in various art disciplines.

UW-Stout offers a range of undergraduate degrees through its Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering as well as programs in biology, applied biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, physics, among others.