August 4, 2008

Children experience hands-on entrepreneurship at Purdue Research Park's Just Us Entrepreneurs program

The 20 young participants will tour the park, learn what it means to be an entrepreneur, work with a "Robosapians," study aerial imaging and visit a manufacturing facility. The three-day program is part of the Just Us Entrepreneurs program jointly offered by the Purdue Research Park and Nancy Justice, owner of Just Us Kids daycare center, which is based in the park.

The three-day program features:

* Monday (Aug. 4), Purdue Technology Center, 3000 Kent Ave., large conference room. From 1:45-3 p.m. students will "Meet the Robosapians" with Susan Manahan, assistant director of diversity for the Purdue College of Technology. Students will "program" three different Robosapians to dance, move and pick up items.

* Tuesday (Aug. 5), Purdue Technology Center, 3000 Kent Ave., large conference room. A 3 p.m. presentation from Sean Henady of Aerial Imaging. Henady will explain what aerial imaging is and then demonstrate the technology by flying above the park in his helicopter and taking a photo of the students standing below.

* Thursday (Aug. 7), Chao Center, 3070 Kent Ave. From 1:30-2:30 p.m. students will tour the Chao Center and learn how manufacturing takes place.

About Purdue Research Park

The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (http://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 140 companies. About 90 of these firms are technology-related and another 39 are incubator businesses. The park was ranked No. 1 in 2004 for university- affiliated research parks and received the 2005 Outstanding Commercialization Award, both from the Association of University Research Parks. The park's companies also have received numerous recognitions, including a 2006 MIRA Award: Innovation of the Year for Purdue Research Park/Quadraspec Inc. and a 2005 CoreNet Global Innovators Award finalist. The Purdue Research Park is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University in the area of economic development. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

To the Purdue Research Park, http://www.purdueresearchpark.com

Note to Journalists: Media are invited to attend and take photos or video of any of the programs offered during the Just Us Entrepreneurs program. For more information, contact Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, casequin@prf.org .

Purdue Research Park contacts: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, (765) 413-6031 (mobile), casequin@prf.org; Steve Martin, (765) 494-6872, sgmartin@prf.org