¹û½´ÊÓƵ

UAF opens engineering labs for up-close community event

The ¹û½´ÊÓƵ College of Engineering and Mines will host Engineering Open House 2026 on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Usibelli Building on the Troth Yeddha’ Campus.

This free, all-ages event is designed to encourage curiosity and make engineering feel approachable. Families, K-12 students, prospective college students and community members are invited. They can explore engineering through hands-on activities, live demonstrations and informal conversations with the people who study and work in these fields every day.

Throughout the building, visitors can try engineering challenges, see aerospace and robotics demonstrations and step inside real labs. There, UAF engineers work on energy systems, Arctic infrastructure and emerging technologies. Students and faculty will be available to answer questions about majors, research and career pathways, offering a clear look at engineering in practice.

The event also features the 60th annual ice arch, a long-standing UAF engineering tradition, along with a photo booth and family-friendly activities. Attendees can enter to win one of two $2,000 scholarship accounts, sponsored by Golden Valley Electric Association and Alaska 529. Free snacks and kids’ T-shirts will be available while supplies last.

UAF has engineering programs in the civil, mechanical, aerospace, energy resource, mining, electrical, geological and computer science fields. Faculty and researchers from each will showcase projects and share how engineering connects to real-world challenges in Alaska and beyond. Engineering student clubs will also be featured, highlighting teamwork, creativity and applied problem-solving.

The event is sponsored by ConocoPhillips Alaska.

Parking on campus is free on weekends.

Video highlights from the 2025 event .

160-26