Picnic Day

Taste different types of coffee at the brand new UC Davis Coffee Center, the nation’s first academic center devoted to coffee science!  Learn about green coffee beans, see and smell how they are roasted, and sample a free espresso, americano, or affogato. Decaf coffee available too!

Picnic Day attendees use an EMG band to guide the Bento Arm. 

Embark on an electrifying adventure at the 'Myo Maze' exhibit, where your arm becomes the joystick, guiding a robotic ball through a labyrinth using the power of your own muscles.

Embark on a journey through the realm of Biological and Agricultural Engineering!

Relax, recharge and reconnect with fellow engineering alumni and faculty emeriti.

Join us for shade, snacks and some College of Engineering swag while you reconnect with fellow Aggie Engineers. Family members and friends of the college are welcome!

Watch current UCD Chemical Engineering students prepare sorbet with liquid nitrogen, for both the public and alumni to enjoy!

Build a simple battery-powered circuit using lights and crafting materials. COFFEE volunteers will guide attendees through fun, hands-on “e-craft” projects while explaining basic circuit concepts.

Try spin painting and stencil painting to learn how microscopic semiconductor devices are fabricated in the lab. These fun projects for all ages are very similar to the real microfabrication process. Bring all your questions about electronics, computers, and college!

We will display our 2026 Competition Bridge which is 20ft long and 2 ft wide.

Learn about earthquakes! 1. Build your own K'Nex structures (the taller the better!) and test how they would fare with real earthquakes on a shake table. 2. Go home with your own earthquake created by jumping on a shake pad! 3. Learn about cool geotechnical engineering research!

Come visit us to learn how to make and create your very own slime to keep, customize, and bring home!

Navigate your way through a maze made entirely of laser beams. One of Picnic Day’s most popular attractions!

A medical mystery is unfolding, and we need you on the case! Use products created by UC Davis' own BME faculty and students to solve emergencies: clear a blocked artery, stabilize a heartbeat, diagnose a patient on the spot, and much more.

Explore ECE senior design and student projects in the teaching labs. Meet student teams, see prototypes and posters, and learn how students turn ideas into working systems. Projects vary year-to-year and will be finalized closer to Picnic Day. Great for prospective students and families.

Experience cutting edge research conducted by the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and learn about how we are working to make the world more sustainable. Meet undergraduate and graduate students to support them and watch them showcase their amazing work.

Future Engineers, Designers, and Creatives Unite! Come to the Engineering Student Design Center's Open House in 1500 Bainer Hall.

Senior design teams race small autonomous cars around a track using sensors and control algorithms. Watch the cars navigate turns and compete for fastest time, then talk with students about how the systems detect the line, steer, and recover from errors. Fun for all ages.

Get ready to explore the future of cars! Exploring EVs with EcoCAR lets families see how electric vehicles work through fun, hands-on displays. Meet UC Davis students, learn how engineers design cleaner cars, and discover how innovation is driving us toward a more sustainable future.