The U of M at the State Fair: Gopher athletes take center stage Sept. 1; parenting tips on Sept. 2

A range of Gopher sports will take the stage at the State Fair this Wednesday, Sept. 1. Fairgoers are invited to visit the U of M stage and building, located at the corner of Dan Patch and Underwood Street, for a chance to catch up with their favorite athletes.

On Thursday, Sept. 2, U of M parenting expert Marjorie Savage will take the stage to walk parents through the process of sending their children to college.

Complete information is available at www.statefair.umn.edu. For the U of M Extension’s 4-H programming and events at the State Fair, go to www.extension.umn.edu/youth/mn4-h/state-fair.

U of M State Fair highlights for Wednesday, Sept. 1:

On the U of M stage

10 a.m. Gopher Alumni Band
10:30 a.m. Gopher Soccer
11 a.m. Gopher Women’s Basketball
11:30 a.m. Gopher Golf
12 p.m. Gopher Women’s Hockey
12:30 p.m. Gopher Men’s Hockey
1:15 p.m. Gopher Women’s Track and Field
1:45 p.m. Baseball
2:15 p.m. Gopher Women’s Swimming and Diving
2:45 p.m. Gopher Men’s Swimming and Diving
3:15 p.m. Gopher Softball
3:45 p.m. Gopher Alumni Band
4:00 pm Music with Radio K

U of M building exhibitors

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Department of Surgery

Are you interested in learning more about managing your weight and health concerns? Stop by the Department of Surgery’s exhibit to learn about new advances in surgical and medical weight management. Interactive opportunities include a laparoscopic surgery training module, videos of surgical procedures, staff to assist with calculation of your BMI (body mass index) and interactive games to test your nutrition and fitness knowledge.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Engineers Without Borders - U of M Student Chapter

No water, no toilets, no waste removal, no electricity! EWB-UMN provides unique opportunities to interdisciplinary teams of students to address these issues in developing countries around the world. Learn how EWB has successfully implemented environmentally and economically sustainable projects. The students have partnered with disadvantaged communities to improve sanitation and recycling in Haiti and provide clean water supply in Guatemala and Uganda.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Gopher Photos and Trophies

The University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics space features a pictorial review of all Gopher Sports. View Championship Trophies and watch a reel of highlight videos. Tickets are also available for purchase with exclusive specials. Goldy Gopher will be available from 3 to 4 p.m.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Department of Recreational Sports Alumni Program

Come back to “The Bank” for the Inaugural Intramural Alumni Flag Football Tournament to be held in TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 10. Put your old intramural team back together and play for another championship or we can place you on a new team. Alumni of all ages are encouraged to participate and join in the fun.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sherlock Holmes at the Fair

The U of M has the world’s largest Sherlock Holmes collection. Tim Johnson, curator of the collection, and friends invite you to have your picture taken with the world’s most famous consulting detective and to learn more about Holmes and his world. Items from the collections will be on display along with a chance to match wits with some of the best Sherlockian minds in Minnesota. “The Game is Afoot!” Come join us for the adventure.

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Stop by and tell us what you know about clinical research at the U and receive a small gift.

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Disability Services

Disability Services (DS) at the University of Minnesota is a unit within the Office for Equity and Diversity. With a mission statement of "Advancing Access for Everyone," Disability Services promotes access and equity for all students, faculty, staff and guests of the University of Minnesota through the exceptional design of innovative learning and working environments and the collaborative education and partnership with the University community. Meet staff and learn more about the many accommodations and services provided at the University. Participate in the "Accessibility Scavenger Hunt" and learn about accessibility features at the State Fair.

1 - 5 p.m. Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport

The first and only one of its kind in the world, the University of Minnesota’s Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport is an interdisciplinary research center leading a pioneering effort to examine how sport and physical activity affect the lives of girls and women, their families, and communities. Information on Title IX, cutting edge research, and our latest report "Developing Physically Active Girls" will be available.

1 - 5 p.m. Confucius Institute

The Confucius Institute at the University of Minnesota (CIUMN) promotes the study of Chinese language and culture throughout Minnesota. It is a collaborative initiative between the University of Minnesota, the Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters, and Capital Normal University in Beijing. As a part of the University’s outreach mission, the Confucius Institute utilizes resources at the University and in the state to serve Minnesota communities statewide. Programming includes cultural and language training for individuals and the business community, professional development training and support for Chinese language teachers, and language and cultural programming for the general public throughout the year.

3 - 9 p.m. Gopher Kids Study

The Gopher Kids Study will be enrolling 500 children at the 2010 State Fair and monitoring them throughout 2011 and 2012 to determine the genetics underlying normal health and development. Children ages one to 11 years who live in Minnesota and St. Croix and Pierce Counties in Wisconsin are invited to participate.

5 - 9 p.m. OSWall (Open Source Wall)

Oswall (Open Source Wall) is an experimental wall prototype that challenges conventional residential wall construction through an open, collaborative approach to material, fabrication, and installation methods. It proposes an "open source" construction platform in which third-party designers, engineers, scientists, or "do-it-yourselfers" can create, produce, market, and sell "applications" that are plugged into the wall. .

5 - 9 p.m. Center for Sustainable Building Research & the Bell Museum of Natural History

Researchers from the Center for Sustainable Building Research and curators from the Bell Museum of Natural History will be sharing information about the upcoming Bell Museum exhibit called "Sustainable Shelter." They will showcase hands-on interactive exhibit components that illustrate sustainable building concepts, as well as a variety of animal-built structures.

Sept. 2 on the U of M stage

10 a.m. Medical Devices Center
11 a.m. Ballroom Dance Club
12 p.m. Going with the Flow: How to Maintain Your Septic System
12:30 p.m. Preserving Minnesota’s Waters
1 p.m. Parenting Expert Marjorie Savage - Sending Kids to College
2 p.m. Ballroom Dance Club
3 p.m. Breakdancing
4 p.m. Music with Radio K

Sept. 2 U of M building exhibitors

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Center for Drug Design

This interactive exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to see molecular modeling close-up and examine cheek swabs using a microscope. Kids of all ages will also enjoy the slime table.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Medical Devices Center

Come see the future of medical device research at the U of M. This display will include body part models, rapid prototyped parts and devices, a visible heart demonstration, a demo using a WiiMote allowing the user to move a computer model with hand movement and many surgical devices. Test your skills at the laparoscopic knot-tying suturing station. Talk with experts and find out more about the state-of-the-art research that includes designing, prototyping and testing new medical devices.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Gopher Women’s Gymnastics 10.0 Club

The 10.0 Club, the Gopher Women’s Gymnastics booster club, will be offering information on membership along with Gopher tattoos. Gopher Women’s Gymnastics Student Athletes will also be making appearances to sign autographs.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Gopher Photos and Trophies

The University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics space features a pictorial review of all Gopher Sports. View Championship Trophies and watch a reel of highlight videos. Tickets are also available for purchase with exclusive specials. Goldy Gopher will be available from 11 a.m. to noon.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. University News Service

Come learn about the latest news at the U.

3 - 9 p.m. Masonic Cancer Center

This interactive exhibit focuses on cancer’s effects on the human body. Visitors can take a Cancer Quiz and also see first-hand, from real human tissue samples, the distress caused by cancer on the body.