February 8, 2025 was the 33^rd annual St. Joseph County Public Library's Science Alive event. The event is designed to be an opportunity for local South Bend institutions and organizations to showcase the science behind the work they do to the young children of the South Bend community. It included interactive demonstrations from over 40 different local organizations and included live shows, including one done by Notre Dame’s very own Kate the Chemist.

The University of Notre Dame had representatives from across various fields including one cohort from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. These students are taking part in a course designed to help teach aspiring young scientists how to get involved in scientific outreach in the community. They learn about various ways to use the tools and knowledge they gain at the university to help spread awareness on the importance of science education outside of the context of the scientific community. The students' involvement at the Science Alive event is just one of the many ways they are practicing the skills they are developing through this course.

The goal of the event for the students was to find an engaging way of educating a population of young children on scientific topics. Ultimately, they decided on a demonstration using element-based lamps and diffraction glasses, and the demonstration was a hit! The bright lamps were an eye-catching display, and the glasses added an interactive element to the demonstration that made it even more enticing for young children. Each lamp was filled with a distinct element which projected a uniquely colored light. By putting on the glasses and looking at the light, the kids were able to see the different colors that were absorbed by each of the elements. They could even turn their gaze to the bright white LED lights above their heads for the chance to see the entire rainbow on display. The goal was to introduce kids to the electron and help them to connect their understanding between an electron and its energy. For someone getting their undergraduate degree in chemistry, an electron might seem like a simple concept, but for young kids with little to no exposure to chemistry, the electron can be a mind blowing concept, if not incomprehensible to some. The glasses and the lamps gave the kids the perfect way to relate something they did not understand and could not see to something they were familiar with: colors! Science Alive is just one example of the many ways that Notre Dame students are using their education to make an impact within the local community and working hard to advocate for the spread of science beyond an academic setting.

Originally published by Student Guest Writer Ellen Crotzer at chemistry.nd.edu on April 07, 2025.