UWM will host the next round of the Zoo Train Challenge, an area-wide STEM project that has attracted more than 120 students from 10 Milwaukee-area schools, on Friday, Dec. 13.
This year, the Zoo Train Challenge has asked teams of high school and middle school students to improve the efficiency, safety and site design for the coal handling process of the Milwaukee County Zoo’s two recreational steam locomotives. Last year’s project — designing a new water tower for the train — is moving into the fabrication stage.
Media members are welcome to observe the teams when they present their conceptual designs on coal handling at Lapham Hall, East Atrium and two adjoining lecture halls. During that time, UWM engineering students, staff from the Milwaukee County Zoo and industry professionals will provide the design teams with written and verbal feedback.
The schedule is as follows:
- 9:30- 10 a.m.: check-in, welcome
- 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: student presentations
- 12-1 p.m.: lunch
- 1-1:45 p.m.: discussion and wrap-up.
To support students along the way, faculty, staff and students from UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science have been volunteering as mentors. For example, they coached and taught students about stress and beams in January, while teams perfected their water tower designs. UWM faculty taught students how to use Revit software, which they used to complete their final construction drawings of the tower.
Teams that will present their designs represent Menomonee Falls, St. Thomas More, West Allis, Saint Joan Antida, Pathways, Wauwatosa East, New Berlin West and New Berlin Eisenhower high schools, Golda Meir Middle School and the Elmbrook LAUNCH program.
The Zoo Train Challenge is organized by Learn Deep Milwaukee in partnership with several higher education institutions, industry professionals and others. Those involved include industry professionals, the Milwaukee County Zoo, the Coalition for Sustainable Rail and Operating Engineers Local 420, along with four higher education institutions (UWM, MSOE, Marquette University and Milwaukee Area Technical College).