Blown Away Through Wind Energy

Thirty-six percent of Iowa’s energy comes from wind farms—the highest share nationally, according to Iowa State University industrial designer Pete Evans. With the state’s—and the world’s—changing energy landscape, it’s important to teach young students about the technology that will help shape their futures.  

ISU Extension is doing just that by sponsoring a FLEx (“Forward Learning Experience”) camp, which was tested January 14 at the Wright County extension office.

Eighteen kids in fourth through sixth grade attended the “FLEx: Blown Away through Wind Energy” camp on Saturday, where three experts from ISU extension led wind energy-related activities and helped the kids interact with some of the technology currently used to model and design wind mills.

Each student eagerly awaited their turn to try out the virtual reality roller coaster and watched a small 3-D printer create model pieces. Those sorts of technology are becoming increasingly relevant to everyday life. “They call them 21st century skills, because the technologies all around us are transforming how we can solve problems,” said Evans, an industrial design specialist.

For the full story, see the January 19 edition of the Monitor.