Children build towers, bridges and smores at engineering day

One tower was perfect -- a cardboard tube supported by taped down straws, with two pieces of string stretched out like guy wires on either side. Balanced on top was a large book.

Another tower was the same sort of tube, cut in half with dry spaghetti holding the book in place.

The two different solutions to the same problem came in first and second on Saturday at Science and Engineering Day at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada sponsored by the University of Nevada, Reno Engineering Department.

The winning tower was built by 12-year-old Emilio Powell of Reno and Tyler Waelbrock, 13, who attends Carson Valley Middle School.

Tyler said the project came together quickly.

"It took us about two minutes," he said. "We mostly just waited for time to be up."

Dayton residents 11-year-old Jenna and 9-year-old Caitlyn Calloway were the second place team. The sisters go to Sutro Elementary School and had to work pretty hard to get the book to balance on top of their tubes.

But once they were done, they could give their structure a good tap and it would sway, but not fall over.

Ellen Jacobson, project coordinator for the College of Engineering, said the program was to encourage children to seek careers in math science and engineering.

The book balancing tubes was one of two workshops children participated in.

The second, sweeter project was creating solar ovens to cook smores.

Just outside the Children's Museum, UNR engineering graduate Nicholaus Halecky distributed the ovens with their sugary contents in the sun.

Along side the homemade solar projects were two solar panels Halecky brought for the display.

Just one of the solar panels produced 34 volts thanks to Saturday's perfect weather.

"I just like to teach kids about science," Halecky said of his participation in the day.

The weather brought the Segal family to Carson City from Sparks.

Dad Gus, mom Chris and 9-year-old Ryan Segal sat around a table building bridges as UNR engineering graduate Teresa Kulesza watched.

Kulesza received her degree in December and enjoys volunteering with the program.

Ryan was working on an arch bridge, which he said was pretty easy at first.

"The top part was easiest at first, but I don't think it is going to be so easy to finish."

Gus Segal said they were enjoying the family outing. "It is a beautiful day," he said.