USU and Leonardo partnership inspires future scientists
Leonardo da Vinci once said, “The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.” This quote is reflected in the museum named after him in Salt Lake City, The Leonardo. People from all walks of life are welcome to come and learn about art, science and technology.
In the summer of 2023, the USU College of Engineering entered into a multi-year contract with The Leonardo.
Matt Jensen, director of marketing and public relations for the college, said the contract enabled USU to sponsor the museum’s exhibit called “Flight.”
“‘Flight’ is all about aeronautics and aviation and aerospace,” Jensen said. “Everything from civilian aviation to space exploration.”
The exhibit features a restored American military aircraft from the 1950s, a C-131 and a restored Polish military aircraft from the 1980s, a MIG 21. It also hosts realistic flight simulators in the same style of those many pilots train on.
Justin Anderson, director of marketing and events for the museum, said they love having USU as a sponsor for the exhibit.
“This is just a really awesome opportunity for us to be able to offer our guests, and hopefully a lot of USU patrons,” Anderson said. “It’s an opportunity to see USU and learn a little bit about flight in a new context.”
Now, a portion of the exhibit is dedicated to USU research topics, such as space debris and composite aircraft. USU is currently working on new exhibits to be added.
“One is focused on sustainable aviation fuel, which is derived from algae and other bio-based products,” Jensen said. “The big push that we’re working on is a very complex exhibit all about supersonic aviation.”
The exhibits will tentatively be done this summer.
In addition to sponsoring the exhibit, the contract between USU and the museum offers a program called Engineer in Residence.
Doug Hunsaker, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is the first participant of the program.
“This allows Dr. Doug Hunsaker and his team to be down here in our building, offering workshops and presentations on a recurring basis,” Anderson said. “They’re all about aeronautics and flight and all of the cool things that they get to work with every day.”
The next upcoming Engineer in Residence event, called “Wings,” is on Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is geared toward kids and youth.
“It’s all about the aerodynamics and science of wings,” Jensen said. “How wings generate lift.”
In addition to learning about wings, participants in the event will also be introduced to airplane designer computer software to learn how to analyze the performance of wings. To wrap it up, participants will get the opportunity to build their own handheld glider wing.
“We just want to make this accessible to as many people as possible,” Anderson said. “With just general admissions at the museum, they can stay and they can interact or participate in as much or as little of these workshops as they want to.”
Anderson hopes the contract between USU and The Leonardo will continue for many years to come.
“We understand that we are deriving some real benefit by being associated with an outstanding educational institution like USU, and we are so appreciative of that,” Anderson said. “We want to be very active partners.”
Jensen said he enjoys working within the partnership as well.
“We get to interact with not necessarily college students, but young people and parents and grandparents,” Jensen said. “They have an opportunity to see the USU brand and make the connection that USU and engineering are this really strong brand in the state.”
Looking forward, the Engineer in Residence program also has an activity on Jan. 27 from 1-4 p.m. called “Flight Simulation.” To find a list of the Engineer in Residence events at The Leonardo, visit engineering.usu.edu/exhibitions/the-leonardo/museum-events.