Technology museum lights up learning

The Works Museum exploded with activity during the annual celebration of National Engineers Week Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Bloomington, MN. Here, youngsters used homemade playdough, along with a batterty and motor to show how playdough can conduct electricy. The simple experiment was first pioneered at St. Thomas University, and is now a side business for St. Thomas engineering grad Matthew Schmidtbauer, who sells kits called Squishy Circuits Store. Schmidbauer was among the enigneers volunteering at the event.](DAVID JOLES/STARTRIBUNE)djoles@startribune.com Join in the fun as our Museum explodes with activity during our annual celebration of National Engineers Week. The event features live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more from The Works Museum and its engineering, technology, and science partners from all over the Twin Cities.**Matthew Schmidtbauer,cq (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Works Museum exploded with activity during the annual celebration of National Engineers Week Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Bloomington, MN. Here, Caroline Fairbrother, 6, left, and her brother Lucas, 3, not pictured, did some reverse engineering on a DVD player with the help of volunteer Ted Williams, an engineer for Xcel Energy, right. Caroline and Lucas used pliers to remove capacitors and circuits from the player. "This whole entire city," Caroline said, referring to the numerous parts in the player, "let's destroy it."](DAVID JOLES/STARTRIBUNE)djoles@startribune.com Join in the fun as our Museum explodes with activity during our annual celebration of National Engineers Week. The event features live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more from The Works Museum and its engineering, technology, and science partners from all over the Twin Cities.**Caroline Fairbrother, Lucas, Ted Williams,cq (The Minnesota Star Tribune)