A barrage of maroon will be everywhere on Saturday, Aug. 31, as the great programs and services that Southern Illinois University Carbondale provides to the region and beyond will be on display at the Du Quoin State Fair.
The events are part of SIU Day/Coal Heritage Day. The fairgrounds are open from noon to midnight, with SIU activities from noon to 3 p.m. Parking is free for all SIU students, faculty and staff with valid ID. Everyone is encouraged to have fun and wear maroon.
SIU activities will be in the air-conditioned Second Heat building, located on Midway Drive across from the walk-in plaza (Gates 5-6) and an adjacent outdoor area. The SIU Water Ski Club will also perform ski shows at the fairgrounds lake throughout the day beginning at noon with the last show at 5 p.m.
Activities will include:
- Jim and Vicki Blair of Energy and their saluki dogs will be available for a meet-and-greet and photos.
- Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences will showcase information on their program and have hands-on materials, including how to identify different native species in the region.
- Center for Virtual Expression (CVeX) will include a live demonstration of an interactive artificial intelligence avatar, a demonstration of current AI capabilities and how SIU Carbondale uses them in the classroom.
- School of Physics and Applied Physics will have hands-on physics activities, including a solar telescope.
- Psychology and Behavioral Sciences will have demonstrations of research that illustrate how the brain produces behavior and how each person’s varied behavioral experiences impact the brain. Activities will also include controlling a “robotic.”
- Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center will have an outdoor activity.
- SIU Alumni Association will have giveaways.
- Social Cognitive Development Lab will have indoor and outdoor activities, including Giant Jenga.
- STEM Education Research Center will host a table featuring activities and a giant globe.
- Student Affairs will have giveaways and a game.
- Undergraduate Admissions will have an information table and swag giveaways.
There will also be information tables from the College of Arts and Media, College of Business and Analytics, the SIU Graduate School, Office of Innovation and Economic Development, School of Aviation, Anthropology, Occupational Therapy, Recreational Sports and Services, Zoology and the Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory,
Additional information is available on SIU Carbondale’s Events and Outreach website.
