The U of M at the State Fair this weekend

Sunday is Maroon and Gold Day

This weekend, there’s much to be seen and heard at the University of Minnesota’s main building and stage at the State Fair, located at the corner of Dan Patch and Underwood Street.

An annual highlight among fairgoers: Maroon and Gold Day is Sunday, Aug. 29. Visitors are encouraged to proudly wear their maroon and gold attire, stop by the U’s building for trivia and Goldy Gopher appearances, and see the U of M in the State Fair parade.

University President Robert Bruininks will be joined at the parade by the chancellors of the U of M’s four coordinate campuses: Charles Casey (Crookston), Lendley "Lynn" Black (Duluth), Jacqueline Johnson (Morris) and Stephen Lehmkuhle (Rochester).

Complete information is available at www.statefair.umn.edu.

U of M State Fair highlights for Saturday, Aug. 28:

On the U of M stage

10 a.m. Child Research at the U
11 a.m. U Connects Stage Stars
12 p.m. The Mapping of Joy and Pain in the Twin Cities
1 p.m. U Connects Stage Stars
2 p.m. Salsa Dancing
3 p.m. Child Research at the U
4 p.m. Music with Radio K

Aug. 28 U of M building exhibitors

9 a.m. - 3 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.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Innovative Engineers

Come and see how the student group Innovative Engineers is extending the reach of renewable energy to the developing world. The exhibit will include an interactive display which invites spectators to spin a 1kW wind turbine and generate electricity. The exhibit will also include informational displays and handouts detailing the work that Innovative Engineers is currently doing.

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. CFANS - Department of Food Science and Nutrition

Learn about food and nutrition from experts in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Child Development Research

Learn about discoveries in child development from world leading researchers and find out ways to get your child involved in these projects.

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.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. University of Minnesota, Duluth

Representatives from the University of Minnesota, Duluth will be present to answer questions regarding the coordinate campus and its current initiatives.

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Mapping of Joy and Pain in the Twin Cities

The Mapping of Joy and Pain is a temporary, traveling work of participatory public art that has been visiting parks and public spaces in Minneapolis and St. Paul this summer. The project contains a large wood map, and fairgoers are invited to contribute to the map. Fairgoers can add gold coloring to locations where they have experienced joy and gray coloring where they have experienced pain. This mapping reveals an emotional understanding of the Twin Cities - allowing us to understand our cities and neighborhoods in new ways.

1 - 5 p.m. Immigrant Letters at the Immigration History Research Center

Come learn about the exciting Immigrant Letters project from the Immigration History Research Center! Explore the past and present of Minnesota’s immigrant history with facsimiles and audio recordings of letters held in the IHRC’s archives (some dating back to the 1800s). There will also be information on how you can contribute to the project from your own family history.

1 - 5 p.m. Emerald Ash Borer

Extension educator Gary Wyatt will discuss the identification and management of emerald ash borer.

3 - 9 p.m. Medical School - Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

This interactive exhibit will provide visitors with a chance to have questions answered with Ask the Doctor and Ask the Pharmacist activities. Visitors will also have a chance to learn about current and upcoming research projects.

5 - 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!

5 - 9 p.m. University Partnership for Health Informatics

UP-HI (University Partnership for Health Informatics) educates health professionals to transition from paper to electronic health records. We educate Health Informatics professionals in specialties to improve the quality, safety, outcomes and value of health services in Minnesota.

Aug. 29 on the U of M Stage

10 a.m. Face Painting with U of M Homecoming Royalty
11:15 a.m. Access MN Radio Interview with President Bruininks
12 p.m. Gopher Sports Update Radio Interview with Athletics Director Joel Maturi
12:30 p.m. President Bruininks and the Alumni Band
1:15 p.m. Know Your U Trivia
2 p.m. Face Painting with U of M Homecoming Royalty
3 p.m. Engineers Without Borders— U of M Student Chapter
4 p.m. Music with Radio K

Aug. 29 U of M Building Exhibitors

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Department of Neuroscience

This interactive exhibit display focuses on everything a person needs to know about the brain and its fascinating functions. Visitors will get the chance to experience brain demonstrations up close and personal.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics - Minnesota Space Grant Consortium

This exhibit by the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium will include items used by the high-altitude ballooning team to do weather balloon missions to "Near Space," including scientific payload boxes and pictures and video clips from past missions. Come discuss aerospace opportunities in Minnesota, see a display of spacecraft models and do hands-on activities with miniature rocket launchers, miniature hovercraft and more!

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Joel Tallaksen - West Central Research and Outreach Center

1-5 p.m.: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

5-9 p.m.: Paul Porter - Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sustainable Shelters and Animal Architecture

Preview the Bell Museum’s new Sustainable Shelters: Dwelling within the Forces of Nature exhibit. Learn and compare how humans and animals have adapted to changing environments.

9 - 11 a.m. Gopher Women’s Basketball Fast Break Club

The Fast Break Club, the Gopher Women’s Basketball booster club, will be offering information on membership along with Gopher Basketball tattoos. Gopher Women’s Basketball 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 1:15 to 1:45 p.m.

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Homecoming 2010: Paint the Town Gold

Visit the 2010 Homecoming booth for fun and festive maroon and gold promos, a chance to meet the Homecoming Royalty Court and to learn more about exciting events taking place from Sept. 26 - Oct. 2 as part of Homecoming 2010: Paint the Town Gold.

11 a.m. - noon Meet UMD’s New Chancellor

UMD alumni and friends will have the opportunity to meet new chancellor Dr. Lendley (Lynn) Black.

noon - 9 p.m. Gopher Women’s Basketball Fast Break Club

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