GLIN==> U of I Open House features exhibit on non-native plants

[Debra Levey Larson <dlarson@uiuc.edu>]

January 22, 2002

Source: Scottie Miller (217) 244-1676; scottiem@uiuc.edu
Contact: Debra Levey Larson
Communications Specialist
(217)244-2880; dlarson@uiuc.edu

        

EDITOR'S NOTE: Downloadable photos from last year's ACES Open House can
be obtained at
http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/itcs/photo/media/openhouse2002/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U of I  College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental
Sciences
Open House Set for March 8 and 9

URBANA- Where else can you pet a giant cockroach from Madagascar,
milk a cow and cheer for your favorite maggot to win a race but at the
2002 Open House hosted by the University of Illinois College of
Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES)?  This
year, the ACES Open House will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 8th
and 9th,  from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the south end of the U
of I campus at Urbana-Champaign.

This will be the 13th year that the College of ACES has opened its doors
for a unique, behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in some of the
hundreds of labs, fields and greenhouses at the University of Illinois.
"We try to make it educational and entertaining," said Scottie
Miller, director of special events for the College of ACES. "It has
become a very popular annual event for the College and for the community.
We have visitors all the way from nursery school to high school and
beyond," said Miller.

Every year there are some old favorites that people come to expect, but
there are also always lots of new exhibits, too, said Miller. One new
addition this year is an entire building. The new ACES library is an
octagonally-shaped building on the south campus. In the atrium of the new
library, visitors will be able to surf some of the ACES Web sites at an
interactive computer exhibit. There will be specially book-marked sites
featuring information on nutrition, gardening, pest management and
others.

        

        

        

        

At one exhibit in the Stock Pavilion visitors will learn more about
invasive species as they help Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant send non-native
plants to the "slammer" in an exhibit called "Arrest that
Invader!" When they identify and imprison an invasive plant,
children will be given the designation of Junior Plant Deputy.

Demonstrations are scheduled to take place throughout the two-day event.
"One demonstration that's always a lot of fun is watching the floral
design students make an arrangement to music," said Miller,
"Sometimes you'll see a beautiful, floral wedding arrangement
created to some soft, dreamy music and other times it's sunflowers and
rock and roll!  It's interesting, too, because it's timed the
students have to get the arrangement done by the end of the
song."

A free brochure will be available at any of the ACES Open House
buildings. The brochure will include maps, a complete listing of
exhibits, the schedule of demonstrations and information on parking and
concessions. 

On Friday, March 8th, visitors can park for free in lot F-23 at the
corner of First Street and St. Mary's Road, then take a free shuttle from
the lot to the Open House. On Saturday, visitors can park for free on the
street and in campus lots. The shuttle will run continuously both days to
help visitors move easily from the Stock Pavilion, the Meat Sciences
Building, Plant Sciences and finally to the College of Engineering Open
House on the north end of campus. 

More information about College of ACES Open House activities can be found
online at:
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/openhouse
or by calling (217) 333-9355.


-30-

Debra Levey Larson, Media/Communications Specialist
Information, Technology & Communication Services
University of Illinois
65 Mumford Hall, MC-710
1301 W. Gregory Dr.
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: 217-244-2880
Fax: 217-333-2614
E-mail: dlarson@uiuc.edu
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/itcs/index.html