On Saturday, November 12th, members of the Pratt Lab volunteered for the capstone outreach event organized by FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering, and the Sciences), which invites middle school girls to the University of Michigan for a day of fun activities related to math, science, and engineering. The goal of this event is to engage girls from underrepresented groups in participating in STEM fields through hands-on demos and interactive presentations linked to actual research by a variety of groups on campus.
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| Pratt Lab Volunteers - L to R: Siyuan, Matt, Ryan, Stephen, and Katie (not pictured- Peter) |
Our group hosted a series of fun- and somewhat messy- activities focused on climate change with links to atmospheric chemistry. Of course, it can sometimes be challenging to make our research relatable to a bunch of twelve-year-olds, so creativity and simplicity is key! We discussed ocean acidification through pop and lime, and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide using acetic acid (vinegar), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and latex reaction vessels (balloons)! Overall, everyone had a great time and is looking forward to the next event in the spring!
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| Ryan making clouds under the watchful eye of Rachel |
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| Peter enthusiastically awaits the next group of students for demos! |
