Outreach
Science is fun, interesting, important, and something that you, too, can do. Those are the central themes of the Department of Chemistry's outreach programs, which are designed to spark young people's interest in chemistry, and to help young people see themselves as future college students, researchers, professors, and science professionals.
Recent Outreach Events
May 6, 2016
Energy and U continues to grow with theatre collaborative
More than 6,400 students in 3rd through 6th grades are attending the popular Energy and U shows. Two shows a day will be conducted May 11-13, and May 16-20. Two public evening shows, May 18-19, are sold out.
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April 13, 2016
Cool Chemistry offers hands-on chemistry to 7th-8th grade girls
Approximately 60 7th- and 8th-grade girls will enjoy a day of hands-on chemistry workshops and demonstrations at the 10th annual Cool Chemistry Day, Saturday, April 16.
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Some of the Department of Chemistry's educational and fun outreach programs include:
- Chemists in the Classroom: chemistry students conduct a variety of
demonstrations or workshops for groups at the university, at local schools, or
in the community. They also discuss chemistry careers.
- Energy & U: with
an educational slide show about energy set to music, and some demonstrations
that include loud explosions, bright flashes and flames, Energy and U ignites
students' interest in science.
- Cool
Chemistry: the annual Cool Chemistry workshop provides girls in 7th and 8th
grades with hands-on opportunities to explore the wonders of chemistry with
women in the Department of Chemistry's graduate program.
- Chemistry Day at the West 7th Community Center: Professor Christy Haynes leads a day of chemistry experiments at this Saint Paul community center.
Additional Outreach
The following programs are not organized by the Department
of Chemistry; however, a number of our professors and students volunteer their
time to help with these outreach activities. For additional information, click
on the links below:
- Chemists in
the Library: volunteers from varied chemistry careers and chemistry
students help young people and adults with chemistry experiments at community
libraries. The Minnesota Local Section of the American Chemical Society
organizes this program. Chemistry Professor Philippe
Buhlmann coordinates this program.
- Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE):
members of this professional chemistry fraternity conduct demonstrations at
many events.
- University
on the Prairie: professors and students engage young people living in rural
Minnesota in three days of hands-on and interactive science learning
experiences.
- Science for All, an outeeach initiative involving graduate students, aims to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in the urban Twin Cities community by performing intricate science experiments with middle school students. If interested in volunteering, send an email to sci4all@umn.edu.
- Minnesota State Fair: chemistry
faculty, staff, and students are active participants in science activities at
the Minnesota State Fair, ranging from eco exhibits to demonstrations.
Schedules are published on the Department of Chemistry home page, and the College of Science &
Engineering website.
Outreach from the College of Science & Engineering
The College of Science & Engineering, which includes the
Department of Chemistry, has a number of outreach programs for young people of
all ages. For additional information, go to College of Science & Engineering.
