Purdue faculty, alumna part of this year’s Passport to Hi-Tech event

Purdue alumnae Jocelyn Dunn speaks at the 2016 Passport to Hi-Tech at Conner Prairie museum in Fishers, Ind. Dunn spoke about her experiences conducting simulated Mars missions in an isolated environment in Hawaii. (Photo/Conner Prairie) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University alumna Jocelyn Dunn’s experiences living in a simulated Martian habitat are just part of the university’s participation in Conner Prairie’s Passport to Hi-Tech on Saturday (March 18).

Dunn will talk about her work with Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS), a program conducting simulated Mars missions in an isolated environment on Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii.

She served as chief scientist for the HI-SEAS third mission and remained an investigator for the fourth mission and fifth mission, which is ongoing.

Passport to Hi-Tech runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, Indiana. It is sponsored by Roche Diagnostics.

Dunn will speak at 12:45 p.m.

Barbara J. Alder, director of Purdue’s Office of Engagement for Indianapolis, stressed the importance of the hands-on event for girls ages 7-12. It focuses on careers in science, engineering, biology, chemistry, computers and other disciplines.

“It is vitally important for our young girls to meet and interact with role models in STEM careers to help them dream about being in these careers one day,” Alder said. “Women & Hi-Tech board president Tiffany White was told she couldn’t be an engineer because she was a girl. There are helicopters in the air today because she ignored the naysayers, went to Purdue and studied engineering.”

Several Purdue faculty and programs also will take part in the weekend event. Purdue Women in Engineering will show an age-appropriate hands-on engineering activity while Purdue Construction Engineering and Management will teach how to build complex bridges using gumdrops and toothpicks. 

Purdue's Lyles School of Civil Engineering will show how civil engineers shape the world via a simulated earthquake at a “shake table” and giving advice on how homes can be more energy-efficient.

 Admission to Passport to Hi-Tech is free for non-members of Conner Prairie with $8 museum general admission.

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu 

Sources: Barbara Alder, 317-632-0714, balder@purdue.edu