On June 22, 2011 the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosted approximately 25 summer campers (ages 3-7) and their chaperones from Zhang Sah, a local nonprofit organization. The organization asked USciences to be a part of their summer camp kick-off week focusing on science. The group toured chemistry labs and were treated to some interesting discussions and demonstrations by our faculty.
Assistant Professor Dr. Alexander Sidorenko demonstrated color changes as solutions were mixed.
Assistant Professor Dr. Ned West demonstrated that not everything that looks like water is water; indeed some of these substances are pyrophoric i.e. can spontaneously ignite.
Christian Tooley C'12 was one of four USciences students who showed the group some of the University's spectrophotometers and explained how they measure color.
The visitors also spent time in the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance complex and were impressed by the magnet.
Associate Professor Dr. Catherine Bentzley discussed solids, liquids, and gases, and she explained how good scientists make observations which inspire questions.
After a busy morning in the labs, the campers and their chaperones settled in for lunch in the D’Angelo Mall before departing campus.