Science in the Park – CSU East Bay – 05 Oct 2024

Report by Alex Madonik, NCW Coordinator

It was a great day for science outreach in Hayward, CA, as Cal ACS returned to Science in the Park. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors hosts this event every other year, and their volunteer team was ready to welcome Charlie Gluchowski and me when we arrived around 8 AM to set up. Since the festival provides canopies, tables, and chairs, we could focus on the promoting the NCW 2024 theme, Picture Perfect Chemistry. After hanging the NCW banner behind our table, we unpacked UV-color-changing beads, cyanotype imaging paper, and ferromagnetic fluid sheets that detect magnetic fields. Our display featured Celebrating Chemistry and plenty of bling for our visitors:

Cal ACS booth at Science in the Park 2024
Cal ACS booth at Science in the Park 2024 with student volunteers from Las Positas College and College of Alameda

Charlie and I were delighted to welcome a total of ten student volunteers from our introductory chemistry classes at Las Positas College and College of Alameda. The first four volunteers were ready when visitors started to arrive soon after 9 AM, and soon they were explaining each activity to a steady stream of future scientists. Kids were happy to make UV-detecting bracelets, and we assured them that the dramatic color change of the photochromic beads in sunlight would reverse to colorless in the dark. Almost everyone tried their hands at making cyanotype images as well, using UV flashlights to illuminate Starlight® paper through stencils and film negatives, or capturing surprising shadows from familiar objects such as keys and utensils. This process requires some patience and a steady supply of AAA batteries for the UV flashlights! We already knew that it’s important to protect the yellow, light-sensitive side of the paper from sunlight, which (paradoxically) bleaches the yellow iron(III) complex to colorless white.

Charlie Gluchowski with students from Las Positas College and College of Alameda
Charlie Gluchowski with students from Las Positas College and College of Alameda
Student volunteers from Las Positas College and College of Alameda explain cyanotype printing and UV-detecting beads at Science in the Park.
Student volunteers from Las Positas College and College of Alameda explain cyanotype printing and UV-detecting beads at Science in the Park.
Student volunteers from Las Positas College demonstrate cyanotype imaging at Science in the Park.
Student volunteers from Las Positas College demonstrate cyanotype imaging at Science in the Park.

By the time I packed up at 3 PM, the temperature was approaching 100°F; we were fortunate to be well shaded by the canopy provided by the festival, and visitors took away hundreds of Periodic Table cards and copies of Celebrating Chemistry in Spanish as well as English.  We look forward to 2026!

Photo Gallery by Charlie Gluchowski:

Imagine Imaging: detecting magnetic fields using a magnetic probe:

At this event, we also introduced visitors to specially designed magnetic sheets from the ACS Store.
At this event, we also introduced visitors to specially designed magnetic sheets from the ACS Store.

These magnetic sheets have lines of magnetic material running vertically, and the probe sticks to the sheets when it’s oriented the same way, but not when it’s oriented at some other angle. We also used plastic cards containing a thin layer of ferromagnetic fluid to directly visualize these magnetic lines. We had fun exploring the unique patterns created on these cards by other types of magnets.

We also used plastic cards containing a thin layer of ferromagnetic fluid to directly visualize these magnetic lines.  We had fun exploring the unique patterns created on these cards by other types of magnets.