MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The math and science family fun fair is set for next Saturday at the University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Union, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And it’s free.

It looks like a room of toys, but this is where math and science come together.

“They’re all very hands on, and there’s lots of movement and excitement going on,” said U of M professor Carol Shield. “Math by itself might not be as much fun, but the things you can do once you use it as a tool are what makes society great.”

Included in the experiments are understanding how earthquakes affect mini skyscrapers if they’re not structurally sound.

The hope is all this fun will turn into a passion.

“Maybe it will inspire them to become structural engineers,” Shield said.