The Chemistry Club at the University of Southern Maine (USM) has been performing chemical demonstrations for numerous elementary and middle schools in the southern Maine area. The primary mission of the Chemistry Club at USM is to heighten exposure and promote interest in chemistry among student youth. The chemical demonstrations often revolve around a theme that has been developed specifically by the chemistry club for the target audience.
The Chemistry Club of USM has performed numerous over the course of the current academic school years as well as summers'. Although many demonstrations are customized for the target audience, the basic structure of a performance is that a theme or concept is briefly described in a manner comprehensible to younger students. The short lecture is usually performed in a question answer format, which stimulates audience participation. The concept is then illustrated in the context of an experiment, which is performed shortly thereafter. For instance, we illuminate the relationship between molecular motion and temperature by freezing objects such as racquetballs, bananas, and flowers in liquid nitrogen and demonstrating their frozen state in an entertaining fashion to the audience.
The actual demonstrations are performed either at the University of Southern Maine or on location at the participating school. Although the Chemistry Club of USM is open to donations, we strive to offer our services at no cost to underprivileged schools in the southern Maine area. Because of many rural districts in southern Maine, schools struggle to find room in their budgets for additional education tools, such as live demonstrations that stimulate interest in chemistry and supplement traditional scientific curricula.
The chemistry outreach program has received numerous accolades and a wealth of positive feedback from attendees and their faculty. Satisfied schools have asked us to return and give additional demonstrations, as well as referring us to other educational institutions. Our efforts have also been noted in local newspapers and television newscasts. As an educational outreach program, the Chemistry Club of USM has strived to not only thrill and interest, but teach and inspire.
