Korematsu Middle School Science Fair – 06 Feb 2020

Cal ACS outreach volunteers returned to Korematsu Middle School in El Cerrito on Thursday, February 6th, for their annual science fair. Korematsu Principal Matthew Burnham joined their science teachers in recognizing winners at each grade level, and they insisted on including our chemistry impresario Bryan Balazs and your event coordinator (Alex Madonik) in the group photos. Parents and students alike were delighted with Bryan’s spectacle, including Elephant’s Toothpaste, Big Flame in a Bottle, and the Acrylic-Oxygen Rocket.

Bryan Balazs and the Acrylic-Oxygen Rocket

There was plenty of time left for hands-on chemistry fun, as ACS volunteers Marla DeKlotz and Birgit Drews assisted with the pH rainbow demonstration (using red cabbage indicator to show the pH changes as vinegar reacted with Milk of Magnesia). Kids soon discovered that their own breath was acidic enough to change the indicator color to pink. We also reprised “Build-a-Battery” and the Chevron Slime Team entertained chemists of all ages.

Science Fair winners with Korematsu faculty and
ACS presenters Bryan Balazs and Alex Madonik