UQ students and staff at the Ekka in Brisbane this week will show off a robot to help sick kids, make slime, give guest lectures and handle cattle.
This year, UQ's Ekka display is at the aptly-named Fun and Learning pavilion (pavilion 6 on Agriculture Street).
UQ's display celebrates National Science Week, looking at global challenges in science, technology, environment, health and engineering.
Children can be entertained with several interactive activities including slime-making and DNA extraction from strawberries. Health-conscious people can participate in a number of free tests which assess your body's ability to balance, and also body mass index.
UQ is also offering everyone who visits the stand the opportunity to win a prize package including an Apple MacBook Pro, a 30GB iPod Video, 2 x $50 iTunes vouchers, a Bose SoundDock, an Epson printer and a Crumpler laptop bag. Just fill in an entry form at the UQ Stand.
Those visiting the Ekka on Wednesday, August 16 will have the opportunity to meet UQ's Telehealth Robot at the UQ display.
The large robot was created by the University's Centre for Online Health and sponsored by Xstrata, is designed to improve the quality of specialist medical care to regional areas.
Sick children and their doctors can have video-link consultations with their Brisbane specialists via the robot's television-like screen.
UQ Gatton students will be at the Ekka to help out with sheep and cattle on display in the Meating Centre (hosted by Agforce and Meat and Livestock Australia), located on the top floor of the Commerce Pavilion.
Susanne Schick, who is Marketing Coordinator for the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (NRAVS) said the UQ Gatton Cattlemen's Club had helped prepare the Meating Centre display.
"The students have put in some long hours preparing the stars of the Show," she said.
"So far Buddy and Nelly (the Droughtmaster steer and heifer who are starring in the animal display in the Meating Centre) have proven a hit with school students and visitors.
"Not only do the cattle provide an interesting exhibit for visitors, they are also a talking point for city people to learn a little more about the industry."
Vets from UQ's School of Veterinary Science will also be available to tend any Show cattle feeling the pressures of their Ekka commitments.
At 10.30am each day a UQ academic will present a guest lecture at the Meating Place.
The Ekka will run until Saturday, August 18 at the RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills.
People unable to visit UQ at the Show are invited to attend the UQ's Open Days at UQ Ipswich on Sunday August 19 from 10am to 2pm, and UQ Gatton on Sunday, August 26, 9.30am to 3pm, website www.uq.edu.au/opendays
Media: Jan King 07 3365 1120 or Penny Robinson telephone 07 3365 2339.
