Chemistry fair has element of fun / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, November 23, 2009

Dr. Pyro, played by Kansas University student Max Newby, wows the audience by blowing up a balloon during his show, Frozen Flames University: Chemistry Tonight!, at the annual Carnival of Chemistry on Sunday in Malott Hall.

By Joe Preiner

November 23, 2009

KU hosts Carnival of Chemistry

Kansas University hosted the 14th annual Carnival of Chemistry Sunday afternoon in Malott Hall. This year’s theme was “Chemistry — It’s Elemental!” Enlarge video

Photo by Jon Goering

Erika Spencer, 3, Lawrence, builds atomic models with candy with Linda Myers, a KU graduate student from Halstead, on Sunday. The Carnival of Chemistry offered 11 activity-filled rooms in which children could play and learn.

Crowds of local youngsters were on hand Sunday afternoon for some hands-on science.

The 14th annual Carnival of Chemistry on the Kansas University campus attracted area students from the elementary and junior high ranks.

A variety of activities, which were put on by more than 40 graduate and undergraduate student volunteers, gave the youngsters all their senses could handle.

“It’s just really fun to have them come in and see some of the things we do and to see their reactions,” KU student Kelley Liebst said. “They’re usually amazed.”

During the three-hour event in KU’s Malott Hall, kids were able to participate in activities that allowed them to make their own slime, freeze balloons in liquid nitrogen and even lie on a bed of nails. The student volunteers explained the science behind each activity to their wide-eyed audiences, who were captivated by the demonstrations in the science classrooms.

The hallways were filled with excited, chattering children and their parents. Some of the young attendees waited in line to try their hands at the various activities, while others looked on eagerly.

Gerry Lushington, director of KU’s molecular graphics and modeling lab, said he liked thinking there was a chance some of the young attendees could grow into the scientists of the future.

“Some people really get into it,” Lushington said. “You can really start to see the wheels turn.”

Lushington helped organize the “Spectrapult” event, which allowed kids to launch different colored balls across the room, with the various distances representing different wavelengths found in science.

The event offered 11 activity-filled rooms in which students could play and learn. Some of the attendees went through rooms more than once.

“I like to see them think that science is something that’s fun,” Lushington said.