University Relations

Tours and presentations

At Iowa State University we have tours and adventure learning opportunities.

General campus tours only (1 hour)

• Grades K-6
• Alumni & Friends

Contact: Alumni Association at 1-877-ISU-ALUM/515-294-8488

Campus visit

• Grades 9-12, prospective students

Contact Office of Campus Visits, 515-294-5836 or call toll free, 800-262-3810 or email: admissions@iastate.edu

Group/Visits

• Grades 7-12, prospective students

Contact 515-294-5836

Adventure Learning

• Grades K-6

Contact Speakers Bureau at 515-294-5992 or email speakers@iastate.edu

Listed below are some of the opportunities available for a adventure in learning. If you would like additional information about the opportunity, just click on the URL and it will lead you to their home page.

(ABC) Atanasoff-Berry Compute: An authentic working replica of the world's first electronic digital computer, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) is located on the first floor of the Durham Center. Also located on the third floor in the Durham Center is an exhibit of Dr. Atanasoff's personal items. The ABC was the first to employ a binary system of arithmetic, have separate memory and computing functions, perform parallel processing, use circuits for logical addition and subtraction, have clocked control of electronic operations and have modular design construction.

(Agricultural) Climatology Meteorology. Computer Lab: hands-on Internet session. View standard weather maps and various weather systems (including radar and time-lapse charts.) 30 mins.

Aerospace Engineering. Computer labs, wind tunnels, old jet engines, space systems lab. 60 mins.

Agriculture Engineering & Agronomy Research Center. 425-acre facility operated by Ag Engineering and Agronomy departments. Center includes conference/class room, shops, drying shed, threshing shed, storage buildings, USDA soils building. Research includes: 1) Plant breeding of Iowa crops 2) Soil fertility, soil and water relationship to tillages 3) Residue cover , chemical application , water quality , fertilization and manure application 4) Experimental machines, planting, spraying , harvesting , etc. 5) Precision farming (GPS) 6) Biomass use 7) Livestock Environment & Building Research Center. Varies, 2 hours for comprehensive tour.

Agriculture: Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction and Technology Transfer. Distance education center; John Deere and Clifford Gregory classrooms that can be reconfigured into a display or "Traditional" classroom or an Iowa Communications Network (ICN) site or a videotape recording room; control room; information kiosks; Instructional Preparation Suite; Multimedia Edit Suite; Quaker Oats Conference Room and Wilbur Bender studio for video conferencing and studio interviewing. 30-60 mins.

Agriculture: Linear Accelerator Facility and Meat Lab. Only commercial-sized irradiation facility for food research and demonstration in nation. Pictures of machine processing area where radiation takes place and configuration of the maze that the carts filled with products (meat, colostrum powder, plastic bottles, soil) would travel in, tasting room--taste-test irradiated (electrical pasteurization) food Meat Lab: Animal holding area, cutting room, processing room. 20-45 mins.

Agriculture: NCR Plant Introduction Station. Seed processing, cold storage, laboratories and greenhouse facilities, insect pollination program and an overview of the National Plant Germplasm System. Also, germplasm seed increase field plots in June-Sept. 1-3 hours.

Agriculture: Seed Science Center. Seed Lab (Seed Testing Facility-Purity, Germination of seeds); Seed Conditioning (See Conditioning Tower, Seed Imaging); Seed Research (subject dependent on professors who conduct the tour.) 30-60 mins .

Ames Lab: Hands-on activities in science and audience interactive presentations. Hands-on 1) Doing a chemical reaction to observe properties of polymers: experiments include slime, latex rubber balls, powdered polymer 2) Mathematical logic using geometric shapes and giant pole puzzles 3) Magnet tables 4) Teleidoscopes to study light and how to change path of light. Audience Interactive Presentations in Chemistry and Materials Science, auditorium capacity: 75-80. Limited availability. 35-45 mins.

Ames Lab: Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, High-Speed Computing, Environmental Technologies. 1) Magnetic materials and superconductivity research 2) Materials Prep Center: (prepare some of worlds purest materials), single crystal research, Plasma Spray Facility (develop strong wear-resistant coatings for use in industry, like farm equipment) 3) Scanning electron microscope: ability to use computers to maneuver, position and photograph a sample 4) High-speed computers in the Scalable Computing Lab. Limited availability. 30 mins./area.

Animal Science/Horse Barn. View horses and foals. 30 mins

Animal Science/Meat Lab. Irradiation facility; animal holding area; slaughter floor; cutting room; processing room; smokehouse. 30 mins and up.

Art on Campus/Self-Guided. Prairie Tetons, Dairy Industry, Janus Agri Altar, Untitled Trompe loeil, Left-sided Angel, Library Panels by Grant Wood, Carom, George Washington Carver sculpture, Music Played for Personal Enjoyment. 30 mins or more.

Art on Campus/Wed Walks. Walking tour of various art forms on the ISU campus. Starts at noon. Call for dates. 40 mins.

Artifacts of the Archives/Parks Library Archives: Artifact collection contains over 1,500 items (a death mask, the original key to the Campanile, letter sweaters, a sword, pins, beanies, medals, even trinkets used by an ISU alum tp trade with South American Indians). The photograph collection contains over 1,000,000 images, and the rare book collection has over 50,000 volumes relating to science. The earliest dates back to 1475.

Bessey Microscopy. Introduction to microscopy (and old microscopes.) Transmission and scanning (insects) electron microscope and relate with research going on at ISU. 60 mins.

Bessey Greenhouse/Self-guided. Second largest collection of plant species west of Mississippi; bamboo and cactus rooms. Facility open 8:30-4:30; closed some Fridays for insecticide spraying. 30-45 mins

Biotechnology Outreach Education Center Tours or hands-on laboratory activities. 4th grade and up: spooling DNA; DNA extraction from onion, kiwi, or banana; or a simulation of how genetic defects occur. 6th grade and older: an infectious disease simulation, forensic science demonstration, careers in biotechnology presentation, principles of biotechnology presentation, DNA extraction from start-to-finish, or DNA fingerprinting. Customized presentations or lab activities can be designed. 20-120 mins.

Brunnier Art Museum. Nationally accredited decorative and fine arts museum. Also, travelling exhibits, major collections and educational events. 45 mins.

C4 / The Synthetic Environment Laboratory/ Virtual Reality. (Available third Friday of month only. Limited availability. Not available in summer.) Can provide professionally-made videotape (15 mins) explaining the environments. 30 mins.

Campanile. Climb up bell tower and watch carilloneur perform. 7th grade and up. 20-30 mins.

Carrie Chapman Catt Center. Plaza of Heroines honor 3000 women who have made an impact on their families, communities, and society as mothers, teachers, wives, scientists, friends, activists. Bricks still available at $100 each. Inside the second floor reception area of Catt Hall, a computer kiosk contains short biographical stories of most of the women who have been honored. Honorees range from mothers and favorite teachers to Oprah Winfrey and Carrie Chapman Catt. 20 mins.

Child Development Laboratory School. The Lab School has 3 classrooms with 2 groups of children each, one in the morning and the other in afternoon, ranging from preschool to schoolage. Open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. All classrooms have an observation booth that seats 20 adults. Nationally accredited program, licensed by Iowa Dept of Human Services. Purpose is to provide high quality programs for young children; enabling ISU students to observe and participate as part of their coursework. (Closed in summer.) 60 mins.

Children's Garden/Reiman Gardens. Quarter-acre outdoor Iowa-themed educational facility. Sub-gardens: butterfly garden; scarecrow garden with unusual plants such as sunflowers and peanuts; ABC garden has plants in alphabetical order; stream garden with a covered bridge and waterfall; maze garden with gazebo in center; and topiary garden including corral with mare and colt. 45 mins. (The Gardens are open April-October for self-guided tours.)

Computation Durham Center. General walk-through: 45 mins. Web surfing: an additional 45-75 mins.

Daily Campus Tours. Alumni Hall, Inside Beardshear, Pearson, Engineering Row, Durham, Parks Library, LeBaron, MacKay, Catt Hall, Curtiss, Campanile Bells, Memorial Union, Lake LaVerne, Music Hall, Carver. 45-60 mins.

Dance and Movement: Images from Seven Continents explores the world of dance in short movement sound bits. World Dance incorporates salsa, t'ai chi, polka, poly rhythms of Africa, and american Magic Rhythm.

Design. Architecture Studios; Architecture Technology Lab; Craft Design Studios: Wood, Metals (Jewelry), Ceramics, Fibers; Design Graphics Computer Labs; Graphic Design Studios; Interior Design Studios; Drawing, Painting and Printmaking Studios; Landscape Architecture Studios; Gallery 181;Visual Resources Collection and Platos Cave. 30 mins.

Dorm/Residence Halls. View model dorm room. 20 mins.

Unlimited Possibilities by Doug Shelton, Mural /Parks Library. Installed 1/98. Celebrates the founding of Iowa State and its intended future as the best university in the nation in fulfilling its land-grant responsibilities. Designed by a native Iowa mural artist, Doug Shelton, it was created in the same tradition as the renowned Grant Wood murals which adorn the stairwell and lower lobby of the Library building, in that all utilized the talents of trained student apprentices under the general supervision of a master designer in the painting process. 30 mins.

Engel Lab/Robot. Robot demonstration and computer-controlled coordinate measuring systems. 20 mins.

Engineering. Marston Hall: Hi-Tech classrooms; Black Engineering: Robotics, virtual reality, solar car; Engineering Annex: Industrial & Manufacturing Systems; Sweeney Hall: Biochem engineering; Coover Hall: Computer Lab; Town Engineering: Hi & Lo-speed wind tunnels. Tours offered Sept-April. 50 mins.

Farm House Museum. National Historic Landmark. Restored and furnished with Victorian era furnishings from 1860s to1910. Also, traveling exhibits, major collections and special events. Open noon-4:00 pm. 45 mins.

Food Science: Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition (CdFin). Sensory lab: booths where food has been prepared and questionnaire to fill; has special lighting and ventilation. Metabolic kitchens: prepare foods, taste foods; high-tech equipment. 45 mins.

Glassblowing with the Gaffers Guild. 1) History and general information: who, what, where, when and how of glass 2) Science and art of glassblowing: physical properties (hardness, viscosity, temperature); color, shape and form 3) Fun with Glass 4) Glassblowing demonstration: how glass is melted; glass composition; glassblowing techniques; art and design of glass-blown objects; furnaces and furnace operation. 30-60 mins.

History, Care and Handling of Photographs. History of photographs with samples to see (some can be handled) from the 19th and 20th centuries. 1. Invention of Photography (ca. 1839). 2. Unique One-of-a-Kind Photographs (Civil War Period). 3. Inexpensive Photographs for Everyone--Late 19th and Early 20th Century. 4. Color Photographs. 5. Preserving Photographs. 30 mins.

Horticulture Greenhouse. Oldest and largest greenhouse on campus. The greenhouse conservatory of tropical houseplants is most popular. The number and type of plants change with the season. Summer afternoon tours can be quite warm. 15-45 mins.

Hotel Lego/Civil & Construction Engineering. Hands-on: Using Legos, build an exact replica of a hotel model already constructed. 60 mins.

Insect Zoo. Tour building; see specimens and handle live insects. Fee required. 45-60 mins.

Iowa State Center. Take an in-depth look at the history, building features, and upcoming events at Hilton Coliseum, Stephens Auditorium, Fisher Theater, and Scheman Building all of which comprise the Iowa State Center. 45 mins.

ISU Poultry Farm. No visitors allowed into any facility that contains poultry but may view from outside. 20 mins.

Lied Recreation Athletic Center. Turf area for football and soccer; 20 volleyball/basketball courts, 8 lane 300m track, athletic weight and wrestling rooms, media room, recreational fitness center, jogging track, stretching area. Varies.

Materials Science Principles Demonstration/Cool Stuff. Demonstrates mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and optical properties of materials using common materials that may be found around the house or in junkyards etc. 45 mins.

Memorial Union. Four Seasons Fountain, Gold Star Hall (the Memorial), guestroom, several other architectural features, public art, the Browsing Library, and Chapel. 20 mins.

Molecular Biology Building. Green house, the G-Nome project by Andrew Leicester, various labs. 20-30 mins.

National Soil Tilth Lab. Introductory video. Robotic system that samples ground water for pollutants. Growth chamber (Rhizotron) that can simulate all seasons of the year. Research studies that peer at biological activity below soil surface. Earthworm studies and their benefits to the soil. 45-60 mins.

Parks Library. Tours available for specific requests and students who want to use library for research. Varies.

Planetarium/Physics Hall. General astronomy, solar system, constellations, night sky as seen from any latitude and longitude at any time, recent/new results. Up to 60 mins.

Power Plant. The ISU Heating Plant provides utility services needed for university operations. Plant contains large boilers fueled with coal, to produce steam which operates turbine generators to generate electricity for campus needs. The steam is also used to operate turbine driven chillers for generation of chilled water used for cooling campus buildings. A third use for steam is for heating and hot water for campus buildings. The plant also has its own water plant to produce filtered water for plant usage. Tours include a description and history of the plant. 45-90 mins.

Project Cybot. Cybot is a 6' tall autonomous robot. He is controlled with voice recognition and is capable of collision avoidance using sonar. Cybot sings, "walks" and talks among many other capabilities. 45 mins.

Reiman Gardens. The Gardens are open from April-October for self walk- through. Tours booked May 15 to Oct 1 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.: Fee applies. 60 mins and up.

Solar Car/Team prISUm. View student-designed car that runs on solar power. 30 mins.

Student Farm. Students manage a typical Iowa farm as part of their Ag 450 class. Farrow-to-finish pigs, corn and soybeans. 30 mins.

Textiles & Clothing. 1)Design & Product Development Lab: Moveable grids to display projects; industrial cutting tables. 2) Production Tech. Lab: Industrial equipment, mass production techniques. 3) Textile Quality Assurance Lab: Textile testing machines to conduct complete quality audit of a sample lot. 4) Institutional Development Lab: Computers and subject matter specific software. 5) Textiles & Costume Collection: 6000 item collection 30 mins.

Toying With Technology/Computerized Lego Cars. Hands-on presentation. Students build little Lego models and computerize them. Presenter will help them get started. Students are asked to do simple tasks on their own using what have been given them as a start. (45 minute-2 hours)

Veterinary Medicine. Computer Lab, Library, Anatomy Lab, Tour of Teaching Hospital--Small & Large Animal, Surgery*, Radiology* (*if available). Tours offered September-April. 60 mins.

There is plenty of parking available for your school bus to come to the Iowa State University campus for all day, or a portion of the day tour.

Toying with Technology provides an opportunity to build and computerize little Lego models.

The Insect Zoo is a popular tour. View and interact with live insects and other arthropods; fee is required.