Chemistry participates in University on the Prairie

The Department of Chemistry's outreach hit the road with faculty and students participating in University on the Prairie. Assistant Professor Aaron Massari and members of his research group, Postdoctoral Associate Timothy Anglin, Teaching Assistant Christopher Huber, and Research Assistants Bryanna Jones and Dan O'Brien, led about 60 young people from the Lamberton area of southwest Minnesota in chemistry experiments and demonstrations.

University on the Prairie, which ran from Monday, August 1, through Wednesday, August 3, was designed to engage young people in rural Minnesota in three days of hands-on science experiences and interactive learning in classrooms, labs, and outdoors. In addition to chemistry, other areas of study included environmental, health, and food sciences. The young people also explored a variety of career opportunities important to the region.

Massari and his group focused on relating chemical reactions to sustainability, which includes exploring the chemistry behind extracting dye molecules and assembling them in ways that convert light into electrical energy.

University on the Prairie was developed by the Southwest Research and Outreach Center, Southern Minnesota Area Health Education, and College of Food, Agriculture and National Resource Sciences Extension. Partners included the Southwest/West Central Service Cooperatives, Redwood County Public Health Services, and Sanford Health-Tracy/Westbrook.

More photos are available on the Department of Chemistry Facebook page.