Outreach | Andrea Joseph

Science and engineering can be learned at all ages!

Science outreach is some of the most rewarding work I do. It's a privilege to engage with the next generation of innovators, discoverers, and builders! Scroll down for some kid-friendly science demos I really enjoyed.

Resources for graduate students:

UW ChemE specific:

Polymer Worms/

Polymer Caviar

Materials:

5g calcium chloride

Water

2g sodium alginate

(Optional: 250 mL fruit juice)

Syringe or eye dropper

Instructions:

1. Dissolve calcium salt in 1 L water.

2. Mix alginate into 250 mL water (or juice, for the edible version).

3. Using a syringe or dropper, add alginate solution dropwise into calcium bath.

4. Let caviar rest in the bath for a few minutes to gel before eating.

Nano Film Bookmarks

Materials:

Construction paper, cut into strips

Sharpie

Clear nail polish

Water

Instructions:

1. Decorate the strip of paper however you like.

2. Place the paper into the water bath and carefully add one drop of nail polish into the container.

3. Pull out the paper. Let dry before using as a bookmark!

Coin Stack Battery

Materials:

Pennies and nickels

1 Tbsp salt mixed with 1/4 cup vinegar

2cm x 8 cm strip of aluminum foil, folded into thirds

Paper towels cut into small squares

Digital multimeter

Instructions:

1. Place a first penny at the end of the aluminum strip.

2. Soak a paper towel square in the vinegar solution and add it on top of the penny.

3. Put a nickel on top.

4. Continue layering batteries (penny, paper towel, nickel).

5. To measure the voltage of your battery, touch the multimeter to the end of the aluminum foil and the topmost nickel.

Magnetic Nanoparticles at Home

Materials:

Printer toner

Cooking oil

50% cleaning alcohol

Test tubes

Neodynium magnets

Instructions:

1. Mix toner into a small amount of oil until a thick consistency is reached.

2. Transfer a few drops of ferrofluid mixture into a test tube of cleaning alcohol.

3. Control the movement of the ferrofluid with a magnet outside the tube!