Virtual Scientist was developed by graduate students in the Penn State chemistry department during the throes of COVID-19 as a way to virtually engage the community in science while we are unable to meet in person. It is a series of webinars where we will demonstrate fun, at home and easily accessible science demos virtually through Zoom. Please click on the link below to access our webinars!
Time until next webinar!
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Upcoming Demos and Procedures
Ice and Salt: Making ice cream and fishing for ice cubes with salt
Jan 24th
Have you ever wondered why we use salt to melt snow? Did you know you can make ice cream using just salt and ice cubes? Come find out in this webinar
Crystallization: Creating beautiful crystals and candy with time and temperature.
Feb 14th
How do crystals form? What is the process that turns liquid into solid? In this demo, we explore how we can use household items to create beautiful crystals and make candy!
Polar Bear and Insulation: Materials that keep us warm
Mar 14th
When you feel cold and are rushing to get inside for warmth, have you ever wondered how polar bears are able to survive out in the artic? In this demo, we will explore how heat transfers and learn how polar bears and many arctic mammals keep themselves warm!
Crawling Colors: Colors that flow through materials
Apr 11th
Have you ever wondered how water gets from a tree’s roots all the way to its highest leaves? In this demo, we will learn about capillary forces and how liquid can move around and through different materials!
Previous demos
Bubbles and Color: Creating Rainbows with Light!
Have you ever wondered why rainbows form? Or why bubbles always look so colorful even though bubble mix is usually clear? If you want to find out the answer to these questions, check out our bubble demo where we explore the colors that are all around us!
Hydrophobicity and Art: Water, It’s a Love/Hate Relationship!
Why are paper towels so great at cleaning up spills? Why does dew form on grass? If you’re curious and want to learn more, watch our demo where we make fun art using things that like and dislike water!
Surface Tension and Movement:
Hey, why can some bugs walk on water? Has your child or student ever asked you this question? Do you want to know how to answer them? If so, come join us during our next live webinar where we’ll do some really fun demos that answer these questions and more!
Fruit Motion:
Do you know how our bodies digest our food? Or help us breathe? Or moves our muscles? What do all of these processes have in common? We’ll find out during our live webinar where we look at fruit and vegetables and see what they have in common with our bodies!
Strawberry DNA Extraction:
What makes you you? Why is your hair brown or your eyes blue? All of us have a special code that makes each one of us unique! If you want to learn more, join us during our live webinar! In this demo, we’re going to take a closer look at that code with the help of strawberries!
Science and Winter Wonderland!:
Happy holidays! For our final demo of the year we wanted to do a winter wonderland themed demonstration where we learn about the science behind lava lamps and snow globes and then make them ourselves! Come join us for this fun and simple demo that you can do with your family for some holiday cheer.
Please send us pictuers of your demos! We will gather them and present them as a slide show here.
Email them to us at: virtualscientistpsu@gmail.com