Chemistry, Biochemistry Students Shine in Halloween Demo Show
This year’s demo show captivated the audience with fire-breathing pumpkins, screaming gummy bears, and many thrilling liquid nitrogen explosions.
On Friday, November 4, students and faculty of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosted their Second Annual Halloween Demo Show. The demo aimed to show exciting young minds the world of possibilities that science offers and doubles as a perfect opportunity for students to put their education into action. In addition, it brings the campus and surrounding community together for a beautiful and thrilling display of science.
This year’s show captivated the audience with fire-breathing pumpkins, screaming gummy bears, and many thrilling liquid nitrogen explosions. Chemistry Club students also hosted a Halloween-themed kids’ activity tables in the hour prior to the show. The pre-show allowed young participants to experience different hands-on experiments, such as slime-making and non-Newtonian fluids.
Swarthmore student participation was open to Chemistry Club members, as well as all chemistry majors and minors. Prior to the event, students are given a comprehesive overview of the science and safety of each trick, because some can be dangerous if not performed correctly.
Planning for the event begins in August and is a massive collaborative effort by many departments on campus. It all comes together for students to put science on display and become the stars of this large-scale demonstration show.
“My children (and myself) had a blast," says Assistant Director of Payroll Jodie Koenigs. "The students were so patient and knowledgeable during the activities and the show was so entertaining! My four- and six-year-old now want to be ‘experiment people.’”
Next year, the department aims to create new demonstrations and include all interested students enrolled in chemistry courses.
