Energy Education Displays for the State Capital Education Center

Each year, 4th graders from across the state of Kentucky visit the state capitol as part of their state curriculum. The Capital Education Center is a new facility next to the State Capitol for Kentucky school children to visit during these field trips. Under the leadership of First Lady Jane Beshear, the facility is being designed to teach students about energy generation, conservation, and use. The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville were invited to develop kinetic displays to demonstrate concepts of energy. In particular, the universities were asked to create “hand crank” displays where the students would generate energy and see its use. The universities were invited to advertise their university logos on their displays, and will also be recognized on the donor plaque, as a way of raising awareness of the universities among the visiting students. In a letter dated May 25, 2012 from First Lady Jane Beshear to President Capilouto, the First Lady pledged $10,000 of funds from her office to match $10,000 of cost share funds for the University of Kentucky to develop their displays. In response to the invitation from the First Lady, the PI (Larry Holloway) assembled staff and students to design, develop, and test the displays. The effort included a significant amount of time of Richard Anderson, technical support staff for the ECE department, and some student assistance time. In addition, there was significant time through others that was voluntary (not paid), including Dorothy Rapp (staff person), and three additional students. There was also additional community/university service time beyond pay for Richard Anderson and Larry Holloway. The deliverables of the project were four complete systems, and an additional “electronics and light box” portion of an extra system as a spare. These were delivered on August 21. An open house was held on August 30 with the First Lady, representatives of various state cabinets, and representatives of UK and UL. A more public opening is to be scheduled in the future.