Kids slide across a floor covered in cornstarch, dumped there by a cement mixer. They are learning about dense, thick non-Newtonian fluids during a program called Small, Sticky, and Squishy, hosted by scientific experts and students at Yale University in New Haven.
"We have a lot of flashy, gee-whizzy demos that are hands-on and a lot of things to teach the kids and get them interested," says Kurt Zilm, a professor of chemistry and chemical engineering, also the host of Science on Saturdays, one of Yale's free outreach programs for kids across the state. With a two-hour event coming up next weekend, on Oct. 15, organizers are raising awareness about the efforts — just one example of the prestigious institution's commitment to area families.
"Last year, we had 109 different programs that students could come to," says Maria Parente, coordinator of community programs in science at Yale. Selections range from family nights at the Leitner Observatory and Planetarium, to girls' science investigations. "They get to see really strong women in science leading the charge," says Parente.
And that's one of the goals: to show kids that scientists come in all shapes, sizes, genders and colors.
"We try to bring through a cast of scientists that looks like them. Yale is a very diverse place," says Zilm, noting the programs hope to dispel the perception that the Ivy League school is an intimidating, exclusive place. "It's really accessible, very accessible — more accessible than people would think."
Science on Saturdays, created in 2004 and presented by Yale Scientific Magazine, illustrates the collaborative spirit of the outreach. While aimed at middle school students, all are welcome.
"I like to say we get the NPR crowd. We get grandparents, little kids, crying babies," explains Zilm, who doesn't discourage toddlers from attending. "They seem to get something out of it."
The program, held three times in the fall and thre times in the spring, features fun lectures after the demonstrations. The crowd ranges anywhere from 150 to 300 people.
"We have kids that have attended every single one…which is really amazing," says Zilm. The Oct. 15 class is called Birds are Living Dinosaurs: Dinosaurs are Stem Birds and runs from 10 a.m. to noon in the Sterling Chemistry Laboratory. Kids can just show up; there's no registration.
"There's information to give in a way that's different than how it's given in school necessarily," says Parente.
Professors share stories about how they became scientists. Parents watch their children become engaged and excited. Yale students learn by effectively communicating science to youngsters.
"It's inspiring. It brings a sense of wonderment," says Parente. "It's fun to watch the students' eyes open to all the amazing things happening in front of them."
A collaboration meant to connect children to their world, inspire backyard experiments and instill a passion for science, that will last a lifetime.
More information at yale.edu/scienceoutreach.