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Students participate in hands-on community science outreach

children gather and man wearing a blue apron and gold t shirt

Undergraduate researchers from the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry traveled to the Shack Neighborhood House July 16 to present hands-on science activities to local children attending the Shack’s Summer Festival of Fun. 

More than 70 children in K-6th grade determined the density of blueberries using layered liquids such as honey and rubbing alcohol, made sand that did not get wet, and handled oobleck (cornstarch and water) to examine its properties. 

The ten undergraduate students from across the U.S. are engaging in ten-weeks of research with faculty members from the Departments of Chemistry and Forensic and Investigative Science. The research program is funded by a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates site grant and is led by Brian Popp, associate professor of chemistry, and Michelle Richards-Babb, professor of chemistry and director of the WVU Office of Undergraduate Research with help from chemistry graduate student Steven Knowlden.