RAPID CITY, SD (Sept. 17 , 2018) – South Dakota School of
Mines & Technology continues its partnership with South Dakota Public Broadcasting
and Hay Camp
Brewing Company to host the STEAM Café, a series of free informal
talks by SD Mines faculty and staff on topics ranging from cutting edge
research to history.
STEAM Café, an acronym for Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, is held at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each
month, at Hay Camp Brewing Company.
A food truck will be available at
each STEAM Café where patrons can purchase dinner, and handcrafted beer will be
available for purchase from Hay Camp.
“STEAM Café is a great opportunity
for the community to connect with the staff and faculty at SD Mines to talk
about the amazing things happening in the areas of science, technology, engineering,
arts and math,” said Rachel Mannhalter, SD Mines Training & Development
Coordinator. “We love the idea of this very informal atmosphere where
conversations can happen, and connections can be made.
September 18
EPICS@Mines: Engineering & Science Projects in Community Service
Jennifer Benning, Associate Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering
Albert Einstein once said, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” The EPICS@Mines program offers students the opportunity to provide real benefits to communities while earning course credits. Come hear about the program, our projects and partnerships, and hear from some of the students involved in this transformative program.
October 16
Making a Monster: Frankenstein at 200
Laura Kremmel, Assistant Professor in Humanities
In 1818, Mary Shelley became one of the greatest creators, releasing her monster Frankenstein into the world. Readers, scientists and creators from all over the world are celebrating the novel this year, the 200th anniversary of its publication. Frankenstein’s monster originated during a time science and humanities were not at odds: both were simply ways of understanding the world. Today, the novel reminds us of the importance of interdisciplinarity to ask the questions at the core of who we are: questions about life, death, power, discovery, love, loss and humanity. This talk will conclude with a reading by members of the Hard Rockin’ Drama Club.
November 20th
The Hillard Brothers Flying Machine
John Hillard & Phillip Hillard
Before they were old enough to even think about enrolling at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City brothers Phillip and John Hillard filled their bedrooms and family garage with hundreds of airplanes and other types of remote-controlled vehicles they’d built from scratch. Now mechanical engineering students at Mines, the brothers have built a unique electric paramotor, an energy-saving alternative to the gas-powered paramotor they purchased several years ago. Mines supported the brothers with laboratory space, tools and technical advice from both the mechanical and electrical engineering departments. Their paramotor was built at a third of the price offered by the biggest competitor, and the Hillards are now working with the university’s entrepreneurs-in-residence program to market their machine. Eventually, they plan to start their own aviation company, building and designing ultralight aircrafts. Innovators and adventurers at heart, “we’re preparing to launch a pretty crazy future. We’ve got some pretty crazy goals,” John says. Come learn more about their venture and how they took inspiration from their Navy helicopter pilot father, David Hillard, embarked on their electric paramotor, and now look to bring this small sector of aviation into the modern age.
December 18
Investigating the Cellular Mechanisms of Osteoarthritis
Scott Wood, Assistant Professor in Nano Science & Engineering
Osteoarthritis is a crippling disease that costs South Dakotans almost $500 million each year. Come hear how researchers at SD Mines are using cutting-edge techniques to identify the cellular mechanisms that lead to osteoarthritis so that more effective treatments can someday be developed.