![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/expocollage3.jpg\")
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TAMPA, Fla. – It sounds like something straight out of science fiction, but in Tampa <\/a>this week, it\u2019s very real.<\/p>\n At the University of South Florida\u2019s<\/a> Engineering Expo, visitors can control a robotic catapult using nothing but their thoughts. It’s one of dozens of hands-on exhibits drawing thousands of students and families to campus.<\/p>\n The futuristic demo uses brain-computer interface technology, allowing participants wearing a headset to trigger movements with their mind. Organizers say it\u2019s designed to inspire the next generation of innovators.<\/p>\n The two-day event, April 10 and 11, brings together engineering student organizations, industry partners and community groups for interactive demonstrations across USF\u2019s Tampa campus. Organizers expect more than 3,000 school-aged children to attend.<\/p>\n “We\u2019re building exhibits specifically for this,” said Audrey Holtzman, director of strategic initiatives for USF\u2019s College of Engineering.<\/p>\n Across the expo grounds, visitors can test out cutting-edge technology. Students demonstrate self-driving vehicles, drones and robotic systems built to solve real-world problems.<\/p>\n For those looking for spectacle, a jet engine with no moving parts blasts fire and noise, while a “chemistry magic show” features exploding gummy bears and bubbling dry ice experiments.<\/p>\n Outside, engineering students show off Formula One-style race cars, giving attendees a close-up look at the machines. They’ll also get a chance to try simulators.<\/p>\n USF Engineering Expo Event Details <\/p>\n The Engineering Expo runs Friday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.<\/p>\n The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.<\/p>\n Organizers say the expo is open to the entire Tampa Bay region, with a focus on giving K\u201312 students hands-on experiences that highlight careers in science, technology, engineering and math.<\/p>\n Why you should care:<\/p>\n Organizers say the event goes beyond entertainment. It connects young people with real-world applications of engineering and introduces potential career paths in STEM fields.<\/p>\n From learning how drinking water is treated to exploring NASA-related space research and satellite technology, the expo highlights how engineering shapes everyday life.<\/p>\n The Source: Information comes from the University of South Florida College of Engineering and event organizers.<\/p>\n Hillsborough County<\/a>Science<\/a>Tampa<\/a>University of South Florida<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"article TAMPA, Fla. – It sounds like something straight out of science fiction, but in Tampa this week,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":226163,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[47,629,115,1536,554,135,137,136,628,1537],"class_list":["post-226162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-fl","tag-hillsborough","tag-news","tag-organization","tag-science","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news","tag-us","tag-usf"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226162\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/226163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}